Sorry it's been so long

Two days ago Hallie was in Madrid walking to work at the muggle flourish before she'd stumbled across someone the witch hadn't expected to see in Spain at all: Gideon pierce. The man who Hallie had blamed for all her problems. It was this man that had sentenced the witch to a life sentence in Azkaban for divorcing Theodore and defying the marriage law. Of course Amelia had come to her rescue and the two headed to mainland Spain as fugitives.

The time in Spain had been what Hallie had needed. She had required time outside of the wizarding world, time to accept the horrible year that she'd experienced and move on. Spain was a fresh start for her and healed her from rock bottom. After all, losing your child, resigning from your job and trying to seek revenge against the acting minister wasn't exactly what a sane person would do: grieving or not.

Yesterday Hallie had, after leaving her Mother in Spain, returned to Cooper Cottage where she soaked up the memories. A part of Hallie had believed that the reason for her return to England had been to warn the Lupins of what Gideon Pierce was up to, although that wasn't entirely true. Spain was freeing, had been necessary, but her story wasn't over merely the chapter. Hallie was unfinished and staying in Spain wasn't going to help her reach the end.

After spending a few hours in the cottage Hallie had withdrawn some money from Gringotts and headed to the Halloween festivals in Hogsmede. There she'd seen Theodore and his daughter, how she'd grown. He hadn't noticed her, maybe if she'd retained her signature blonde locks he would, but Hallie had vowed for a change with the brunette. For now it was fresh, different but the ex-auror knew it wasn't permanent. Unlike the pain. Seeing Theodore hadn't been painful, if anything it had been a wonderful feeling to be able to look at him and not feel sadness. The last of Theodore Hallie had seen was the back of his head leaving her alone and abandoned cradling their premature still born. How horrific that day had been.

Today, however, Hallie had someone she needed to see. Maura. She was and would always be Hallie's best friend and it had pained her to leave the country without telling her friend. In fact Hallie hadn't spoken to her since before she'd lost her child. The fortnight after had been a blur, a fog of difficult grief where she didn't know what to think. Then the next moment she was been carted to Azkaban. There hadn't been time to say goodbye and explain what had happened.

No doubt Maura would have heard of Hallie escaping for she was certain Gideon would have made it clear she required capture being a perfect example to set and induce fear into the eyes of those who sought to disobey the marriage law. Nonetheless Hallie needed to see her friend. Not for comfort. Not for a shoulder to cry on. Not for the latest gossip. Hallie simply missed her.

After quickly glancing at her watch, which read half one, Hallie knocked. This was it. The return after spending two months completely hidden, vanished from the face of the earth.

Maura was now starting to get her life back after four months of being St. Mungo's, she still couldn't believe that she became a raging vampire and almost attacked her daughter and the muggles next door, she honestly didn't know what made her that way but she she was better now. Although no one really believed that she was, it was a bit upsetting but she knew what they were coming from, they were just trying to protect her daughter from getting hurt. Although Maura told them various times that she wasn't going to hurt her daughter, they still kept a close eye on her, which Maura found quite annoying in all honesty. Ryo was still a bit distance from her, and still was trying to trust her being around Ciara, but she was going to prove to him and everyone else that she changed. It was hurting her to see Ryo so distance from her, especially when they used to be so close, but times changes things she knew.

Although Maura haven't been out of St. Mungo's until a week ago, she still kept informed about everything going on in the wizarding world, she heard about her best friend Hallie escaping the crazy Gideon Pierce. It didn't surprise Maura, she knew how strong her best friend was, she was the strongest person she knew. Maura wished that she could be as strong and brave as Hallie was, she honestly thought that she was a coward when it came to things, she wasn't brave or fearless like her best friend Hallie was. But she knew that Hallie had been through alot, just like Maura has, drama and troublesseemed to follow them like a deadly disease, but it was how things went down in life at times. No matter where Maura went, trouble and drama seemed to fall right into her lap, sometimes when she already had enough.

Sighing to herself Maura walked over towards the playpen that Ciara was playing in and smiled at her, she was such a adorable and beautiful baby, Maura couldn't believe that she almost killed her. Maura feel like breaking down in tears at just the thought of her killing her daughter, she felt like running away about now, but there was something that was keeping her from running away from the world. It was the beautiful baby girl playing with her teddy bear in her playpen, she was one of the reasons why Maura didn't run away, she loved Ciara more than anything, almost as much as she loved Ryo. Despite all she did, she wasn't going to leave her baby girl behind, even if anyone didn't believe that she changed. She just wished that there was someone who believed that she changed, one person who knew that just by looking into her eyes that she changed, she thought Ryo knew that but she didn't know any more.

She knew that she loved Ryo but did he still love her anymore? Maura didn't know, he been so distance around her lately, she wouldn't doubt that he didn't love her anymore. Although she didn't blame him if he didn't, she wasn't in the best state four months ago, but no matter what Maura loved him and she always will. Maura lately felt like the only thing that was keeping them together was Ciara, they were only together for the stake of Ciara, as much as she didn't want to believe it she was starting to believe it. She wanted to believe that Ryo still loved her, but she was starting to come to realty that things weren't the same as she remembered them, she wasn't living in a fairytale anymore. Although their lives was hardly a fairytale, after they were afraid of not being together due to the marriage law, they were due to her telling them that she was engaged and pregnant with Ryo's child.

Tears were now escaping from Maura's eyes that she didn't know that were falling, hearing a knock on the door Maura snapped out of her trance before quickly wiping her tears. "Hm... I wonder who that could be, Ryo is still at work, and he wouldn't knock unless he went to the store and got things for the house and he couldn't carry them all!" Maura thought to herself. "Come on Angel, lets go see who's at the door! "said Maura softly as she picked Ciara out of her playpen as she walked towards the door and opened it. As she opened it she seen a Burnette girl before her that she didn't know, Maura was about to ask who she was, before she seen the familiar blue eyes. "Hallie, is that you? "Maura asked her softly but curiously looking at her best friend that she haven't seen in four months. Maura wasn't allowed to see anyone while she was in St. Mungo's, she was only able to see Ryo for a hour a day, and that was only because he was her husband.

The door opened and Hallie was greeted with that familiar sight of Maura with Ciara attached to her hip. Of course Hallie had heard about what had happened to Maura, heck she'd threatened to blow the healers head apart who told Hallie she couldn't see Maura after the incident. It had just been after Hallie had stayed at Maura's upon discovering that Theodore had a child. It seemed that everybody Hallie knew had a child.

The sight of Ciara with Maura didn't upset her as she had expected, instead it brought a tear of happiness to her eyes. Although Hallie had a lost her own child Maura was still here, she was whole and safe and the family that she had wanted to be.

'Hi, Mars.' Hallie replied, simply staring her friend in the eye. 'How have you been?' The brunette started to ask, still on the doorstep of the house and not wanting to intrude. Hallie hoped that Maura would still treat her as a friend but when the healers turned Hallie away from visiting Hallie soon had gotten so wrapped up in her own troubles that she hadn't found time to keep up with how Maura was doing. Of course at work she'd spoken to Ryo, found out she was doing okay but Hallie had never written a letter, never attempted to visit her and sneak past the healers. Leading the order, being an auror, the breakdown of her marriage, losing her child and being sentenced to Azkaban had been
an unavoidable priority.

'I baked you these.' Hallie added holding out the chocolate brownies. She wasn't one to bake, in fact the past year Hallie had rarely cooked what with Theodore or her Mother cooking all of her meals. Still, Hallie hoped Maura would appreciate them all the same regardless of how they tasted.

Maura looked at Hallie and smiled at her best friend, glad to have someone who understood her, and didn't judge her every second on what she did. Of course Maura made her mistakes, but she didn't want to be reminded of them, but here people were reminding her of her flaws and failures like she didn't already know. The thing was that Hallie wasn't perfect, and she knew more than Maura did that she wasn't, that was what Maura loved about her thst she knew that she wasn't perfect. Maura hated people who thought they were absolutely perfect and without any flaws, they were just plastic and fake in Maura's opinion. She wasn't afraid to admit that she wasn't perfect and she made to many mistakes to count, she wasn't perfect and didn't want to be, she was herself even if people hated her for it.

Maura looked at her and sighed. " Peachy Hal, absolutely freaking peachy! "said Maura softly but honestly. " Come on in, I got so much to tell you! "said Maura as she pulled her into the house before closing the door behind her. She knew that Hallie probably knew about what happened to her, although Maura haven't seen her in four months, she knew that Hallie was never kept in the dark about anything. Maura missed her best friend more than anything, she missed talking to Hallie about girls things or someone there to cry on, as of lately she needed someone to cry on. Maura tried to be strong, but she was slowly starting to crumble due to feeling lonely and lost lately.

" Thankyou Hal, I need something to cheer me up about now, thanks for coming by Hal as always you're the best! "said Maura giving her a weak smile. Walking back towards Ciara playpen she set her back into the playpen as Ciara started playing with some toys. " So....I see that you've dyed your hair, I remember you asking me about that, I told you that it'll be a nice change, and I was right it suits you! "said Maura. Taking a brownie from the plate she was carrying in her right hand she took a bite of it. " Wow...these are really good, no lie like I used to do!"said Maura softly before chuckling. Maura remembered that she used to tell Hallie that her cooking was good when it really wasn't just to make her feel better.

Maura looked at her best friend and bit her lip, before she looked at her best friend she haven't seen in four months. "So...how are things going for you? "Maura asked her softly but curiously as she put the plate of brownies on the coffee table. She was trying to avoid talking about her as much as possible, she was tired of crying and breaking down, she was trying to be strong but she just couldn't anymore. She knew that the strongest people sometimes break at time, she knew that she was as strong as she could without breaking. Out of everyone, she knew that Hallie understood how she was feeling, but then again Hallie was the one who always understood how she felt.

Maura just felt so alone lately, even if Ryo was around her, he been so defensive and distance from her Maura didn't know what to do about it. She didn't know how long it would take for him to believe that she changed, it was really making Maura upset that he didn't trust or believed her. " Do you want anything to drink?"Maura asked her softly but curiously. Once again, tears tried to escape Maura's eyes but she fought them back as much as she could, but they slowly started to escape from her eyes and down her cheeks. " Sorry... Hal, you have your own problems, you don't need to worry about me! "said Maura before wiping her tears away.

Hallie smiled with a slight sigh of empathy as Maura announced her peachiness. It wasn't that she was disappointed in how Maura was feeling, she had every right to feel a bit glum, it was disappointment in herself. Hallie had been too busy hiding in Spain, focusing on herself instead of being there to support Maura. It was only now Hallie was starting to realise how selfish she had been, a word one wouldn't usually use to describe the witch.

'I should have come sooner, Maura.' Hallie said, chastising herself as she followed her friend into the house, making sure to close the door behind them. Once inside Hallie took off her coat and scarf and draped them over hooking them onto a coat stand in the hallway. It had been a whilst since Hallie's navy blue duffer coat had hung there.

'Thanks. I'll probably not keep it for long, but a change was needed.' Hallie replied. It was true, Hallie had been debating about going brown for a fair time now, since before Ciara was born. However, on principle, Hallie remained blonde. For a start almost all the Rookwoods were brunette and Hallie hadn't wanted them to think she was trying to fit in as much as she did find their dark features appealing.

'I'm glad you like them. Hopefully this time you'll eat the full plate as opposed to them ending up in the bin.' Hallie added with a laugh. The laugh wasn't natural though for she was slightly nervous. The fact that Maura had a lot to tell Hallie was playing on her mind. Exactly how much had happened since they hadn't spoken? Were her and Ryo still together? Was her family okay? What was her medical condition? Was she still allowed to work at St Mungos?

Taking a seat on the sofa Hallie mulled over Maura's question of how things were for her at the moment. In all honesty they were fine, being back in England was daunting, but Hallie was great. As well as she could possibly be. In spite of that Hallie still wasn't sure whether Maura needed to know everything, or how much she knew already. Maybe it would just be better to start from scratch, have everything cleared from the table?

Before Hallie could start however, Maura had asked if she'd like a drink. Either Maura could sense how dry Hallie's mouth had become or was trying to distract from her emotions as a moment later tears began to leak from Maura's eyes.

Without thinking Hallie stood up and wrapped her arms around her best friend, holding her close. 'It's okay, Maura. I'm here for you.' She said still holding Maura close to her. 'I'm always here for you.'

As of lately Maura haven't been herself lately, but then again, people could probably say that she haven't been herself in the last four months. But Maura was back to normal, but she wasn't the bubbly and happy girl people came to know her as, it was like her happiness has been taken all from her and she was left cold and alone. Was this her punishment for what she did? if it was, she didn't like it one bit, of course she made a mistake but she honestly didn't deserve this! "Maybe I do deserve this, maybe it's just karma getting back at me!" Maura thought to herself. Maura was a firm believer in karma, so maybe it was happening to her because of what she done.

Maura looked at her and shook her head. " No it's ok Hal, you had your own problems, you don't need to worry about me! "said Maura giving her a weak smile. There wasn't no sparkle on her eyes and most of her smiles and laughs now days were fake, of course she had Ciara and she was happy to have such a beautiful baby girl, but she didn't feel like they were a happy family as they once were. With Ryo being so distance from her, Maura felt like everything was slowly starting to fall apart between them, something that she never wanted to happen. It was like one of her worse fear was coming alive, she didn't want Ciara to grow up know that her parents were separated, she didn't want that. She didn't want that to happen, but she was starting to believe that was going to happen, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"I like it though, and indeed a change is needed, as you know I died my hair to a light brown with caramel highlights! "said Maura honestly. She remembered that Hallie was the one who helped her picked it before she went back to Hogwarts for her fifth year, since then she stuck to that style. A lot of people thought it was Maura's real hair color, but it really wasn't, but Maura didn't dare say that it wasn't. Maura loved how her hair is now, but she didn't like that it was plain brown, it was to boring and plain to her so she changed it. It was a fun day for them Maura remembered, they were just shopping together and having fun, not a care in the world but each other, funny how time changes everything.


Maura let out a small laugh. " Oh no, they weren't end up in the bin this time, I promise! "said Maura softly before giving her a small weak smile. Maura noticed that Hallie's laugh wasn't her natural laugh, it was a bit nervous which made Maura chuckle weakly. " If you think I'm mad at you for not saying in contact with me I'm not, you have your life and own problems to deal with, although you're like a big sister to me you can't always be there to take care of my problems. "said Maura softly but honestly. It been awhile since they last spoke, the last she seen Hallie was when she came here to stay with her after her and Theodore gotten into that fight, god that was ages ago! She honestly didn't know if her and Ryo were still together, she wanted to believe and think they were, but she honestly didn't know anymore.

Things weren't fine for Maura, she was trying to convince people that she wasn't that crazy blood sucking monster anymore, and what was worse that no one believed that she was. It was really hurting to know that no one believed her, even her own husband was defensive around her! There were nights where Maura cried herself to sleep, but Ryo never heard her due to putting a silencing charm around the guest bedroom, but she didn't know how much more she could take. There was only so much she could take before she broke down, but she couldn't help but not to think was she weak for feeling this way? Was she acting stupid and pathetic for feeling this way? All she wanted was to stop feeling so lonely in this world, she wanted someone to carry her through this difficult time.

Maura was trying to avoid talking about herself due to her being afraid that her emotions were going to get the best of her, needless to say, they finally got the best of her now. But she was in front of her best friend now, so she didn't care anymore, it wasn't like the first time she cried in front of her and probably won't be the last. Maura looked up at Hallie with tears in her eyes and gave her a small weak smile. "I know that you are Hal, and thank you, I need someone about now! "said Maura softly but honestly. " I just been feeling so lonely lately Hal, even though Ryo is here with me at times, I feel so distant from him. " said Maura softly as tears came down her face. "I feel like we're drifting apart due to what I done, I tried showing him that I changed but I don't think he believes me, and it hurts Hal it really does!"said Maura softly.

Whatever Hallie had been expecting it wasn't that. Maura and Ryo had been Hallie's inspirational couple, the goal of her own life. They had been a perfect match since they were first introduced, the world just made so much more sense with Maura and Ryo as a pair. What was more was that they had a child and had chosen to be together, unlike the disaster that was her and Theodore.

Hallie and Theodore had been no Romeo and Juliet and having Maura explain her uncertainty about her relationship with Ryo spoke volumes. The tables had turned. Instead of Hallie approaching Maura, telling her about her split with Theodore (which Maura would no doubt have heard about seeing as Hallie had evaded Azkaban after being sentenced for divorcing Theodore), it was Maura who was in need of a relationship lifeboat. Her and Ryo were sinking and Hallie felt awful that she hadn't been here.

'I don't understand why he would be like that?' Hallie began, 'It doesn't make sense? He knows you're still Maura. He knows you wouldn't do anything to harm him or Ciara, or anyone for that matter.'

Maybe a year ago Hallie would have gotten angry, demanded to talk it out with Ryo but no longer was she twenty years old. Hallie had been to sixty in back having lost her child and gone through the emotional pain of ending a marriage. The marriage itself had aged her, matured her and placed a pin in her adolescent balloon, and with age came wisdom. A new level of maturity.

'Have you tried to talk to him about how you're feeling? Perhaps speaking up now before you grow more distant will help?'

All of Hallie's problems had fallen from her mind. Maura didn't need to know them, heck Hallie didn't need to talk about them anymore. Hallie was healed and it was now time to revive Maura.

Of course people didn't expect her and Ryo to have problems, hell she didn't even expect them to have problems, but she guessed it was their time to have problems. Of course her and Ryo had problems, but they always worked them out, but she felt that this issue was far to deep for them to put a band aid over. All couples had their fall out, was this Maura and Ryo's fall out? She didn't want to believe it, but maybe it was. Maybe they weren't the so called 'perfect' couple as people say they were, maybe this was made them spilt. Maybe they weren't meant to be as people thought they were, although Maura believed in her heart that they still were.

Although Maura and Ryo had a 'perfect' relationship, their lives has been anything from perfect, they had drama follow them around like a deadly disease. No matter where they went, trouble always seems to follow them, but it was just how life was at times. Maura was more mature after everything that she went through, it made her stronger in so many ways, but it also made her more mature. She realized that she wasn't the girl she was at Hogwarts, the girl who gotten tortured two times and was pregnant in her last year of Hogwarts, no that girl was gone. Maybe she has changed some, but it was just that she was more mature, but she was still the sweet loving Maura that wouldn't hurt a fly.


Maura looked at her and shook her head. " I don't know Hal, maybe he doesn't think that I'm the same Maura, I mean I don't blame him I did try to kill our daughter and your god daughter! "said Maura softly but honestly. " I'll never harm a fly, I never hurt anyone, but maybe Kaiden but I apologized to him after I found out he was using me. " said Maura honestly. " I would never harm my own daughter or him, he knows that, or at least I thought he knew that Hal, I don't know anymore. "said Maura softly but honestly. She honestly didn't know anymore, she didn't know what was going through Ryo's head anymore, she didn't even know if he loved her anymore after what happened. Tears were escaping Maura's eyes like a river that was flowing downhill, and they weren't stopping anytime soon. "Sorry Hal, you have your own problems, don't need to worry about me. "said Maura softly but honestly.


Maura looked at her and sighed. " I honestly thought that I didn't have to Hal, with our vampire bound I thought he could feel how I feel, but I guess he doesn't or he doesn't care, "said Maura sighing. " But I haven't talked to him about my feelings, it been nothing more than how's your day and then eat and sleep and go to bed, it's like we're only together because of Ciara! "said Maura as more tears escape her eyes. " It doesn't feel like we're even in love anymore Hal, and I don't want it to be this way, I still love him even if he's distance from me right now. " said Maura softly before sighing to herself. "None the less, I'll be fine Hal, just keep doing what I been doing and everything will be alright. "said Maura smiling at her but it wasn't her real smile. Maura haven't smiled for real in a long time, it been fake and no happiness or sparkle behind her chocolate brown eyes like they used to be, there was hurt and loneliness behind her eyes.

Hallie stared at her friend as she poured her worries, along with tears, out from her. It was painful to see how hurt Maura was. The situation that Ryo and Maura were in seemed as worse than it initially sounded. From what Hallie was gathering it seemed as though Ryo was just cautious, worried, perhaps a little frightened by what Maura had done. Of course she couldn't blame him, it was a natural response, but Hallie was certain he knew it was just in his head, he knew Maura was the same person? Didn't he?

Maura thought that Ryo didn't love her. Oh the pain loved caused. For Hallie it had been the opposite, instead of feeling pain because of no love Hallie had been hurt because there was love, she'd loved somebody that she didn't want to. Love is a funny thing, masquerading in many shapes and sizes all of which were as lucky and unlucky as each other. What made love even more confusing was that it was something nobody had control over. Sure you could brew up Amortentia and have someone love you but the person would always be saddened, hoping that they could be loved without lacing someones drink with love potion.

'Maura.' Hallie spoke softly, reaching for a tissue from the box on the table, which she used to dab her friends tears. The smile was heartbreaking. Hallie knew it wasn't genuine, she could see no happiness behind those brown eyes, no uncontrollable grin spread across her cheeks. It was forced and no doubt hurt Maura more to force a smile in an attempt to make herself feel better. Maura probably felt as though forcing a smile would cover up the pain. Hallie doubted that it did.

'It may seem that fighting through the pain and continuing as you are is the right thing to do, the easy thing, but it's not.' Hallie finally spoke once the majority of Maura's tears were gone leaving only damp teartracks down her cheeks. 'You deserve to be happy. Ciara deserves to grow up in a home surrounded by happiness. You really need to talk to Ryo even if there is somebody else there at the time, someone neutral to act as a buffer and help you see things from both sides.'

'Me and Theodore didn't have that. I had you to seek advice from but really the person I needed to talk to was Theodore and instead we argued. Perhaps if we had had someone to stand in the middle, let us have a mature conversation we may still be together but.'

Hallie paused.

'But we're not and it's been tough and I'm finally through the pain, I'm as happy as I could possibly be after-'

After losing my child and husband. Hallie wasn't sure if Maura knew she'd lost her baby, no doubt word would have reached her when she was staying in St Mungo's but it was a topic Hallie hadn't yet brought up and wasn't sure she wanted to.

'After a break up. I guess what I am trying to say is all you can do is try and work things out together and if it fails then you'll survive.' Hallie told her with a reassuring smile and a hand on her arm. 'You always do.'

Maura knew that Ryo was being being cautious and worried about that she was going to try to harm Ciara, but she wasn't, it just hurts her that he didn't trust her. That was what hurts her the most, Ryo always trusted her very well, and now that he didn't it was upsetting her quite a bit. Although Ryo knew that she was still the same Maura he knew and loved right? Maura didn't know, all she knew that he was very distance from her lately. She didn't know what else to do to show to him that she was the same Maura that he knew, despite her mistakes she made she was still the same person. She wasn't a killer or anything, she never harmed a person without reason, she only bit Kaiden cause she was angry and hurt by him but she apologize to him.

Love was a crazy thing, it could make you or break you, it obviously made her but broke Hallie in a million pieces so many times, but Hallie never gave up on it. Love was the most powerful thing anyone could have, the power of it could get through anything, it gotten Maura through alot! Maura believed without love and luck, she wouldn't had made it through all she went through. Maura was a firm believer of love, not because she loved Ryo, but she loved her friends and loved ones. Especially her and Hallie, they came from friends to best friends and now like sisters, Maura loved Hallie like a big sister their bound was stronger than blood.

Maura looked up at her best friend and older sister figure to her and smiled weakly at her. Hallie knew Maura more than anyone, she knew her almost better than Ryo did, but Hallie been there since the beginning. She was always there to pick up Maura when she fell, she never judge Maura on her mistakes, but rather helped her get through them. It did hurt Maura to fake a smile, but if she pretended that everything was ok, then it helped her some. But she knew that she couldn't this any longer, it killed her faking happiness when she really wasn't, anyone who knew her knew that she wasn't truly happy.

Maura looked at her and sighed. " I know Hal, it just seemed like the easiest thing to do, so I did it. " said Maura softly but honestly. "I hope that will happen soon Hal, as of lately it hasn't, and I want my baby girl to be happy. " said Maura softly but honestly. Life wasn't about her happiness anymore, it was more about her beautiful baby girl named Ciara Sakura Hiroku. Maura nodded knowing that Hallie was right, time sure has matured them greatly, crazy how life and time changes everything.

Maura looked at Hallie and smiled at her, it was a genuine smile, something she haven't in months. " Thanks Hal, you're the best as always! "said Maura softly before hugging her. " I'm sorry about you and Theodore though, but I guess it is the best. " said Maura softly but honestly.