Only one word could sum up exactly how Hallie was feeling. Awkward. Mairen's understanding comforted Hallie somewhat, whether it was genuine the auror didn't know nor did she care, it comforted her. That was until the lawyer proposed that her and Theodore have some time alone, time to talk.
A part of her was craving a conversation, to hear words that could put a pin in her relationship with Theodore and provide her with the closure she'd never received. On the other hand it felt as though she would be trespassing, stepping into Mairen's field and marking her territory. What she'd say to Theodore Hallie wasn't too sure. Perhaps she'd start with an apology, find out how he had been doing, figure out where they went wrong and wish him luck in the future, let him know she would always be there for him. Would he want to hear that though? Theodore seemed happy without her, content with his new family, healthy now that she was out of his life.
When Theodore shot down Mairen's proposal that the two have time to talk this only confirmed Hallie's insecurities. He had moved on. He no longer wanted anything to do with her. He wasn't wanting to fight for her anymore. Had she pushed him too far? Or had she left it too long? Had grief pushed the two apart, too far apart that they could no longer see each other?
In spite of that there was a burning flame of hope in Hallie's gut. He'd flashed her a smile, glanced to her when asked if they needed time to talk. Surely that meant something? That a part of him still cared for his ex wife? If he didn't then he wouldn't have even looked at her before shutting the option down. Or was he just being polite?
'Move along.' An irritated voice grunted in Hallie's ear. The man behind her brought her from her silence, making her realise that the queue was moving forward.
'Yes, yes it was nice.. Nice to see you too.' Hallie replied a little flustered, her cheeks reddening as she took a step closer to Theodore as they moved down the line.
How awkward. It was as though he'd ended the conversation prematurely. There they both were in line for food, or in Hallie's case a drink, not engaging in conversation. It appeared Hallie's ideas of reconciliation with Theodore were far from realistic.
'Strawberry milkshake please.' Hallie asked the worker who then went to work on her milkshake whilst Hallie stood there, a crestfallen glaze across her eyes.
Why did she have to get so attached? Always so emotionally involved? A part of her just wanted to let her tears fall, it wasn't that she wanted to sob, more well up and let go of some emotion but she could hardly do that in front of Theodore. Right now she felt like a naughty school girl trying her hardest not to cry in front of the other children as the teacher chastised her. She was the broken down child, subordinate and being made to feel smaller, placed in a box. No. Hallie wasn't going to lose a part of her, not here, not now, not even.
'Theodore, I'm sorry.' She said releasing her teeth from her tongue. 'I know this isn't the place but where will be the right place? I've not been able to speak to you, communicate with you since-' her words suddenly cut away from her.
'Look. I'm just so sorry.' Hallie gasped, her tone heavy with exhaustion having carried around her apology for almost eight months.
It hadn't been easy. The first month Hallie had cut herself away from everything. She'd quit her job as an auror, turned to reside in Grimmauld Place and put all of her efforts into the Order and fighting the marriage law. Her divorce from Theodore hadn't been in vain, it hadn't been a political move, nor had it been a symbol of her falling out of love. The truth was Hallie couldn't survive being attached to someone and never getting to see them. She'd believed that Theodore would have come to talk to her, comfort her after vanishing from St Mungo's. Hallie had been wrong. He hadn't come to her and it had taken Hallie time to realise that, perhaps, it wasn't because of her. He too had lost and needed time to heal. The divorce had been irrational, an act of confusion poisoned with grief and Hallie had never gotten to explain herself. Of course at the time she couldn't, she had been a train wreck, a hazardous zone but after moving to Spain and learning what it meant to live again Hallie had realised the divorce had been a mistake and as much as she tried to live not speaking to Theodore, not even seeing him, the idea that he would become the one that got away terrified her. Hallie couldn't rest until she'd talked about their loss and if she wasn't going to get that then the least she could do was apologise for her own sake as well as his.
by 
