Week Twelve

For the first time in her pregnancy, Avery had been described as ‘glowing.’ Of course, she thought the entire thing ridiculous after the accident a few weeks ago. Just on the verge of her twelfth week, the blonde wasn’t entirely sure if the comment was a compliment or not – she was due to start showing, and that didn’t exactly sit well with her. People would be wondering for months whether or not she was actually pregnant, and thus would either comment rudely or avoid talking to her at all. Neither option was appealing, obviously. Deciding to avoid that particular co-worker, Avery could only hope that no one else would offer any sort of comments about her or her health.

Shaking away the thoughts, Avery reached a hand up absentmindedly to tug at her braid. It was already rather loose, strands sticking out towards the bottom, but she hardly noticed as her feet carried her into the deli a few blocks away from the Ministry.

She only had about an hour before she was due to return and begin once again keeping an eye out for everything going on around the Ministry’s many floors. She and Max had coordinated lunch times so that at least one of the two was around in case anything happened, or even changed. The school had quickly become her priority, and Avery was waiting for the day that someone in her office or department noticed. She was just lucky that she had been promoted last fall, giving her a few people to help her through everything.

Of course, returning to work after the Christmas she had just experienced meant she wanted nothing more than to dive into her work and pretend that her co-workers hadn’t seen her with the dark-circled eyes, and hadn’t noticed her wasting away. Hadn’t asked if Robin had hurt her. He never deserved to be thought of as someone who could actually do that to his wife. It had been her fault all along.

She pushed open the door with a sigh, walking up to the counter and ordering something light that would hopefully fill her up until she went home and could relax for a few hours before starting all over. She often stayed far too late, not wanting to be the reason Keiran and his students got attacked; unfortunately, she had just had a conversation with Robin about how he couldn’t come in with her anymore, even though the attack with still fresh in their minds. It meant that her time with him had become increasingly limited.

Lucky, then, that she was probably going to get fired for not actually doing her work while in the office, right? Eventually, she would be let off for a while due to the pregnancy, and Avery could only hope that they gave her the position back afterwards.

She knew full well, upon picking up her order from the counter, that it would be beneficial to return to her office and actually get things done, but she couldn’t bring herself to be stuffed in that room longer than she had to be. Avery often found herself glancing at the couch that no longer was occupied by her wary and over-protective (yet entirely wonderful, admittedly) husband, wishing she hadn’t told him to stay home. No, indeed, it would be better to get a few minutes of space before she returned to play lookout while Max took his break. Glancing about the deli, the blonde intended to make her way to a table by the window, content with the idea of absentmindedly people-watching for a little while.

Elsie was looking like she was looking for trouble. In all honesty, she had been looing for trouble longer than she was capable of dealing with it. To be fair, she had tried to stop a lifestyle of looking for trouble... and then she had found Nash. It seemed natural, then, that the second she stopped looking for trouble was the second she got herself into the realest trouble of her entire life. Living a life of the straight and narrow had only brought forth horrible consequence, so it was back to prowling for something dangerous to get her blood boiling.

Trouble-making often made for hungry stomachs, though, so Elsie had stopped in at a cute little deli near the Ministry of Magic. Her plan was to enjoy her lunch, flirt with the man behind the counter, and then head up to the Ministry and take Claire some lunch. Her blonde-haired other half always seemed to forget that food was a necessity, and Elsie worried. Claire could go from six in the morning til eleven at night on a wedge of grapefuit, and then clear out the cupboards as soon as she got home. It wasn't healthy.

Claire was hiding something from her, she knew it. She didn't think it was anything major. But something, or someone, had hurt her best friend. Or maybe it was a few things. She had noticed a change after Avery's wedding, and then everytime she had seen Claire after, there had been less life and more exhaustion. And Elsie knew it wasn't the work she was doing. Claire could work in Law Enforcement sleeping, blindfolded, and hog-tied. It wasn't physical - whatever was hurting Claire, it was spiritual.

Elsie was waiting on her order as well as Claire's, and she was leaning against the counter, watching the clerk reach for a new package of bread. She felt someone join her at the counter and Elsie smiled. "Forget sourdough buns, I'd like some of those." She grinned, rolling her lips flirtatiously before lolling her head. "Am I right or am I-" That was when she realized who had joined her.

Or am I talking to Avery Bishop?

Oh. Whoops.

Elsie was not one to get embarrassed. So she was not. But she was shocked, for sure. She had not expected to confront her best friend's sister tonight. Her best friend's ex boyfriend's new wife. Oh, shit, this was going to be a weird conversation.

Elsie smiled widely, only a hint of awkwardness in her smiles. "Oh. Hey, Avery. You look well. How are you?"

As Avery was turning to walk to the window-table she had been eying, a voice to her right took her by surprise, stopping her in her tracks. It was one thing to expect to be alone at lunch and be okay with it. It was another thing to glance round and see the opinionated best friend of your childhood enemy. Especially considering that enemy also happened to be family, as was the case for Avery and her sister. Elsie recovered first, speaking instead of looking awkwardly like the blonde had decided to.

She looked well? What was with the compliment? Inquiring after someone’s health when you didn’t really care was almost expected from people, but actually seeming to be nice about it was completely different. Claire’s best friend should not have wanted to be polite to Avery, or to actually bother to wonder after how she was doing. No, Claire’s best friend should have glared and offered verbal attacks after the whole thing where Avery married Robin, not Claire. Granted, it wasn’t her fault or anything, but even after all those years, wouldn’t her sister have felt off about it? Avery felt she would have been, if she had ever grown attached to anyone in her school years.

Robin, unlike his wife, had clearly been attached, even as early as Durmstrang. He’d proposed, for Merlin’s sake, and she could only imagine how the parties involved had felt. Although he had tried to explain it to her, Avery was sure she couldn’t understand it fully.

“Hi,” she offered weakly, lifting her chin to actually look at the girl standing next to her. “Um, thank you. I’m doing well. You..?”

What did you say to the girl who probably hated you because your sister did? Biting her lip briefly, Avery tilted her head to the side, even though she knew full well that her embarrassment was probably obvious. She couldn’t very well say something about how she was better than she had been a couple weeks ago. Although, Claire might have found it amusing or interesting that her sister had failed so miserably with the guy who had proposed to her first.

Actually, Robin hadn’t ever proposed to Avery at all.

She also didn’t want to start on about the baby until asked, so she avoided letting her free hand fidget with her shirt, and refused when her eyes wanted to dart down to her middle. Instead of doing either of those, she offered vaguely, “I’m on lunch break from work, currently.”

Elsie looked so composed, even though the little Elsies in her brain were running around madly. They had never been very good at sorting information, and now they were madly trying to scrounge up any information they had on Avery since the wedding, while hurrying to Elsie’s emotional controls to make sure they stayed under control. Elsie was loyal to Claire, yes. So anyone who hurt her friend deserved to die. But Avery had always been a weird exception because the girls did not know exactly what had made them so distant. There had been a divorce that had divided the entire family. That was the settled upon reason for their estrangement – the divorce. So, it was hard for Elsie to hate Avery. Especially since Claire assured her friend that there was no hatred there, just distance.

Besides. Hatred would be an emotion, and Claire rarely owned up to having emotions.

Little Elsies reported to Big Elsie that there had been no new information received on Mrs Avery Ivanov, previously Miss Bishop. The emotional center was informing her that no action was necessary, that no wrongs were detected. That, if anything, the only wrong between the Avery sisters was the distance between them. Elsie had once in a blue moon thought of encouraging Claire to try talking to her sister. Elsie was one of the few people in the world who could talk Claire into doing something she didn’t want to do. She had talked her into drinking more, flirting more, and caring less. But when it came to talks of her sister, Claire would hear nothing of it. That was the line and Elsie had always kept a respectful distance.

She did not know that line with Avery.

Avery responded and Elsie smiled a little. “I’m great! Trying out a life in Mother England for a change. The Big Apple misses me sorely, I’m sure, but I moved here to keep Claire company.” She had to test the waters by dropping her friend’s name. That would determine a lot about the direction that the conversation was going to take. Elsie was clever in these social ways, good at seeing what people were thinking by their reactions. That came with experience and practice. Elsie could be a bit manipulative if she was not already being manipulated.

“I’m on a lunch break too,” Elsie said brightly. “Taking some to my dear bestie, too.” She paused. “Could I join you?” It was bold, and a little rude, but Elsie never worried about being too bold.

Days away from her birthday, Avery had to wonder after whether or not Claire and her best friend had spent the younger sister’s well over the years. If Claire had ever thought of her when Avery’s rolled around. Claire would be turning 21, she noted offhandedly, only faintly surprised (as always, when she pondered it) that she remembered her sister’s birthday so easily. The temptation to ask was mentally laughed away as she focused on what Elsie was saying.

Avery nodded, never having heard how her sister befriended the brunette standing in front of her. The part of her that remembered bits and pieces of time before the fight was warmed to know that Claire hadn’t been alone during her time in New York. Then again, the elder sister hadn’t quite expected Clarissa to end up by herself; she seemed to make friends more easily than Avery, at least during school. So her sister ending up alone had really not been a potential. She considered how she wanted to respond for a moment, before she finally settled on: “Well, I’m glad. Moving is never easy. Though, I feel like if anyone could handle it, it would be Claire.”

Offering a smile to assure Elsie that she meant no harm or sarcasm, Avery nodded towards the table she had picked out. “I was going to sit by the window, there.”

It hit Avery too late that she perhaps should not have said yes. What if Claire found out she was practically befriending her closest friend? Would she be upset? Avery wasn’t sure. Even so, perhaps if she and Elsie got along to some extent, Claire would hear about it and….

And what?

Avery had no idea.

“Be warned, though: I may ask too many questions about New York. I’ve never been across the pond. Down to other parts of Europe, sure, but no further.”

It was probably a bad idea, she mused, to mention the fact that she had been down south. She was immediately reminded that this girl wouldn’t want to hear about Avery and Robin’s honeymoon. Avery herself hadn’t wanted to think of it until late. Even with her argument with Robin about his and Keiran’s bet, they were doing much better than before. The elder of the Bishop sisters knew that the credit for that lay partly in the fact that they were expecting, but chose to believe that they had both worked to get back to where they had been in the beginning. Regardless of her initial fear that he only kept her around because of the baby, Robin had helped, over the past few weeks and when she had stayed home earlier that week. It had been ages since Avery felt so safe around him, and she wasn’t willing to turn that on its head if anything happened with Claire.

Elsie was a bit surprised that she was even here, successfully talking to Avery Bishop. She knew if Claire walked in, this peace would be broken. Not necessarily because Elsie wasn’t supposed to see her, but because the awkwardness would be too much to bear for everyone. Knowing Claire, she would turn and just walk out in a panic. Claire could be awkward like that, as composed as she claimed to be. When it came to her family, confrontation was the last thing she was capable of surviving. Elsie was the better of the two when it came to awkward situations, mostly because Elsie never felt awkward. She was awkward by nature and thus thrived in such situations. Claire wouldn’t even bring it up. Just pretend it never happened.

Elsie did not like that Avery brought out a side of Claire that she did not understand. She wished the sisters were normal enough to at least be the same around each other as they were near each other. It was the one thing Elsie wished she could change about her friend. Not only for her own selfish reasons of having a friend who did not act like a schizophrenic mess around other blondies who looked somewhat similar, but because she was certain that Claire would be happier with this load off of her chest. She knew that if those two could reconcile then about fifty percent of their stress and heartache would be relieved.

She was genuinely surprised, and strangely relieved, when Avery accepted her offer to sit together. She smiled widely. “Wicked awesome,” she chirped, perking up brightly. Avery continued and Elsie grinned. “Sure thing. You’ve found my weakness. Talking about myself.” Elsie grinned and the clerk strolled over, holding out a white paper bag with the two sandwiches inside. “I’d love my drink this century, Lenny,” Elsie said, no hint of rudeness. He rolled his eyes but could not help fetch her drink with a small smirk on his face. She often flirted with him. And he often enjoyed it.

She took her drink and the bag, strolling towards the spot Avery had pointed out.

Avery hesitated only briefly before heading to the table while Elsie picked up her drink. She immediately could see why Claire had taken a liking to the brunette. Sure, the girl was more outgoing than Avery was used to or than Avery really wanted to be herself, but it was endearing somehow that Elsie could be. Once the pair had sat themselves at the table in question, Avery glanced out the window for a moment before lifting her sandwich and taking a bite of it. Upon swallowing, she looked back at Elsie.

“So, um,” She started, tilting her head to the side as she spoke, “…how is she? I mean, I know she works at the Ministry, too, but…” Avery trailed off, looking down at her lunch. Did she even have a right to ask after ignoring her sister for so long? Avery could’ve full well just asked Claire herself. She could have written a letter. But she hadn’t. She had not even tried, because that would’ve meant the possibility of not even getting a reply. Or, even worse, the possibility of being told to shove off.

A frown threatened to show, so Avery picked up her drink and redirected her gaze at Elsie as she sipped from it as though she were more curious than anxious. She just wanted to know. Here Avery sat, only now starting to show her pregnancy, and her marriage was to the man that Claire could have said yes to. The story hadn’t been as painful for her as Robin seemed to expect; Avery could remember the bits of Durmstrang that she had chosen not to block out. She could easily recall wondering after if her sister and that boy would work out, but never remembered his name or what he looked like. She had barely remembered Elsie’s face. Basically, anything that had concerned Claire was filed away, but never looked into with much effort as to details. She just kept track of what she heard, as if she could help when something went wrong. Avery wasn’t so sure that she could have done something, even then.

“Actually,” she started again, setting the drink back down and struggling not to fidget. “You don’t have to answer that. I don’t want…” Your friendship to be messed up. Except why would Claire ever find out? Sighing, she finished with, “I don’t want you to feel obligated. None of this should affect you… Sorry.”

They settled in nicely and Elsie found much of the original traces of surprise and panic had mostly left her now. All she had in her system now was the hunger for her sandwich and the curiosity to find out why Avery had even agreed to sit with her. For, Elsie Norton had been notorious for many things in her life, but surely Avery would remember the almost inordinate amount of loyalty Elsie had to Claire. Elsie had received detention over her punishment of a boy who had forgotten to take Claire out during the third year  - and Claire had not even liked the boy that much.

So, there was something in Avery that thought the risk was worth it – even if Avery didn’t realize it. Elsie was intrigued, and she was feeling hopeful. The woman was typically horrifically scattered, but when she wanted something, she could focus her attention on it and chase it with everything she had. Well, now she wanted to get Avery talking about Claire and see if there was any possibility for healing in the Bishop family – or, at least, among the Bishop sisters.

When Avery spoke, it was of Claire. Elsie took a bite of her sandwich to hide the smile that wanted to erupt on her face. Did the universe just seek to please her? It had taken nothing from her to get the conversation on her subject of choice. Of course, Elsie had learned the hard way that the universe was not always so obliging, but, right now, she was not thinking of Death Eaters and betrayal and broken hearts. She was thinking of two sisters who could greatly improve if they would only start talking to each other again.

She swallowed and regarded Avery. “No, don’t apologize. You’re her sister. You have the right to know about her life. Sisters are meant to be apart of each other’s lives. I’m her soul sister and I entangle myself in every detail of hers.” She smiled, speaking without blame or spite, in the attempt to get Avery desiring this for the pair of them. For a girl who was tricked by a handsome face and pretty words every other week, Elsie had some manipulation techniques of her own.

She took a drink, thinking for a moment. She finally decided what needed to be said. “You know… I want to say she’s great. She loves working, and she gets the opportunity to do so here. She misses New York, but she always had wanted to travel.” A slight lie here, but they were straying too near confidential topics. “She’s made a few friends, and, well, she has me. That’s recipe enough for a life of bliss.” She smirked a little. No, that foolhardy confidence had never left the goofy woman.

Another drink and, “But… I think something’s on her mind. And I don’t think it’s one thing. I think Claire is ready for more. She’s at an impasse in her life. She needs something to reinspire her to be… Claire. You know?”

Elsie thought Avery deserved to know? She couldn’t even begin to fathom that idea. It went completely against everything she believed about her sister and herself. The entire ordeal had started with Avery deciding that she had hurt people and would simply continue to do so. She didn’t dare explain that to Elsie, though, because she most certainly knew only the other side to the story. That wasn’t to say that she believed Claire’s side was wrong or a lie. Neither of them would ever tell the story the same way, even if they reconciled the things they thought were truths and came to one similar tale.

That said, Avery’s hand paused in its lifting the drink to her lips as she watched Elsie. The corner of her mouth lifted at the brunette’s smile, unable to help it. A twig of jealousy poked at her, but she ignored it. It was entirely her fault that she did not have a best girl friend as Claire found in Elsie.

“It’s probably just me not knowing her, but if she wants all of these other things, why does she remain? Surely she could find something she preferred? I understand her loving her job. I adore mine, though I never expected to choose it all those years ago. She likely doesn’t even realize I’m a few floors away with such a strange job.” Avery shook her head, but the smile remained.

It was truly amusing to note the difference between childhood Avery and the Avery she was now. The early Avery just wanted to read and keep to herself and keep out of trouble. The lack of talking didn’t truly bother her, even though it was the first thing she had tried to reconcile as she grew up. There was very little in her that would have ever endeavored to pursue a career with dragons or anything else so dangerous. But her years of sitting around and waiting had only made her transition into university that much more stark. Keiran and Gavin had been adventurous, even in their years at Hogwarts. It wasn’t surprising, then, when they instilled in her the idea that her love of magical creatures could become a career. It was during a massive study fest that Keiran and Gavin had come to some sort of understanding.

That, too, was a strange thing regarding the elder sister. So many times after she left home, she had been the person that brought others together. Keiran and Gavin. Robin and Keiran after their fight. She had suggested to Keiran that he ask for help from Jack. As many times as she had messed things up, there were an equal number of moments when she fixed things. She just couldn’t see them, herself.

“I suppose you’ve been pondering over what might help her? It sort of sounds like you have been,” she clarified quickly, taking a bite of her sandwich for an excuse to stop talking.

Elsie would not let the churning thought surface into her mind. This was about Claire, not about her, not about… anyone else. If she could focus on Claire, on that blonde thundercloud she called the love of her life, then there was no worries, she could stay focused. But if she began really thinking about Avery and the woman she was now, the last name she now sported, she was not sure nice Elsie would remain. Truly, nice Elsie had long only been a shell, filled with a spirit of manipulation and pain, but there were still her sweet spots, parts of her that were still genuine, and anything to do with Claire Bishop brought that out in her.

On the flip side, anything to do with Robin Ivanov could bring out the reverse. And if she began considering Avery as Robin’s wife, the woman who had snapped up the prize of her sacrifice, she was not sure she would be so generous. But, of course, she would never let such thoughts surface. This was about ensuring Claire was happy, once again, and no ill feelings registered. Her sweet smile remained pasted on her cherry red lips, the very face of innocence. She may not be the smarter of the two women, but she was clever enough to keep up appearances. It was what she had been doing for her entire life, after all.

“Oh, you know, circumstances,” Elsie said vaguely, waving a hand airly, taking a drink. “Claire may be stubborn, but she can’t frown an extenuating circumstance out of existence either. Works got her tied up in a way that I think is wearing her down.” She was saying just enough for Claire to have a real problem without actually revealing the nature of her troubles. Claire, herself, did not realize the situation she found herself in, and Elsie could not think why Avery should know before the blonde in question did.

Elsie tipped her head about Avery working only a few floors away. “Hmm… You know, now that you mention it, I don’t think Claire knows. I feel like I would have heard something if she knew. Her heads been buried in a hole of paperwork six feet deep so coincidences like that wouldn’t register if I came in on an elephant announcing them to her through a blowhorn.” Elsie smiled, taking up her drink once again and sucking the sweet liquid. “So, don’t worry too much on that front.”

Avery set her up so perfectly too. Elsie swallowed a bit of her sandwich down, figuring she should get started on lunch eventually, though this had become less of a break and more business with every step closer to this moment. Swallowing her mouthful, she tilted her head. “Of course I have, and I think I know something that might help. You two need to talk.” No games, no easing into it. There it was – plain, simple, and spelled out.