Harry Potter Fan

"Alright but you owe me Ms. Weasley, and don't think I'll forget because I won't,"


Sirius sat at the bar in the almost empty Three Broomsticks. He peered around anxiously in black pants, black shoes, black shirt, and a black cloak. He was feeling very dark as he sat with no drink though the bartender had asked numerous times. Beside him was an empty chair he was saving, before it on the table lay a Butter Beer. He was obviously waiting for someone.

His bright orange eyes swept the room, and his white smile flashed in every direction. He nodded to the waiter as he sat, not wanting to make conversation but feeling the need to give some sort of recognition that the bar man was there. He turned in his creaky old stool to look at a drunk man sitting in the corner knocked out against the window sill. He shook his head turning back to the bartender who's eyes were still curiously on him. Sirius felt uncomfortable so he turned to the other side of the room, noticing two rather plump women laughing rather loudly, clearly drunk while clanging together what seemed to be not there first glasses of Fire Whiskey. He shook his head chuckling at the site.

A clock some where in the East struck five o'clock and already he could see people outside as businesses either closed or opened for the evening hours. He watched the bustle of people as a small group of men that had just gotten off of work walked in, hanging there cloaks on the hanger. Sirius turned away from them, not wanting to make conversation even though he recognized one of the men from the book shop down the road. He instead stared at the fire whiskey set out beside him.

He wondered when Ginny would make her appearance.


(Ask before joining unless told otherwise by me or Ginny! Please and thank you!)

Ginny had asked her parents to keep Cody for the night. She didn't know if Xaver was at home, sleeping, or if he had gone to his realm for work. She had simply wanted to make sure that no matter what he chose to do today, he wouldn't have to worry about being back home with Cody for the night.

She had explained, earlier that morning, that she was going to meet a friend for drinks after work. A rare occurrence, yes, but not so completely abnormal. She was, after all, 21 years old, and she needed friends.
She loved Xaver and Cody with all her heart.
But the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" was most certainly true.

Now, she walked into the pub, still wearing her teacher's robes. Long, black, and actually rather scary looking. She noticed Sirius right away and gave him a small wave and a smile as she walked up.
"Hello." She said, sitting down, "How's life treating you?"

Sirius smiled as he nodded a hello to Ginny as she walked in. He thought for a moment on the question,
"well the way I see it is. I'm sitting here in a bar," he looked around him
"with my best friend," he winked to Ginny
"and we're drinking." He motioned toward her glass but then reconsidered his final statement. "Or rather your drinking. But that makes one of us right." He smiled laughing with ease. "Work is hell and family life is hectic, but other then that,"

"Pretty good."

He nodded to himself, replaying the answer in his head before jumping slightly, knocking him out of his chance. "Oh sorry excuse my manners Ginny, what about you how's life at home treating you?" He watched her movements, his eyes a dancing orange.

Ginny laughed, picking up the glass, "Thanks." She said, taking a drink.

She shook her head, "Life's great, you could say. Xaver was gone for a bit, but he's come back." She chuckled, "And he has almost no hair."
She actually hated Xaver's new haircut. It was too scary. It showed his sharpness way too easily.

Ginny ws used to seeing his softness, actually.

Surprisingly quick, she finished her drink.
"Work was hell today...the new headmaster is a jerk..."

Sirius nodded as he listened to her talk. He peered at the ceiling, thinking. He shifted his position so that one elbow was on the table and the other was on the back of his stool, his knees were pointed in Ginny's direction. "New headmaster?" He hadn't talked to anyone that worked there nor had he been to Hogwarts in such a long time that he had forgotten that changes obviously were going to be made.

"Who is it this time around?" He asked personally hoping he wouldn't know the man.

"I dunno, some idiot, if you ask me." Ginny shrugged. She knew the man's name, but it mattered not to her. She didn't like him, or his ideas. And she didn't like the way he was pushing her to take a full time job at the school.

The bartender gave her a new firewhisky when she looked at him, knowing just what she wanted. It wasn't hard to guess, actually.

She glanced at Sirius, "How come you aren't having a drink or two?" She asked, tipping her head slightly.

Sirius watched the bartender give her the drink and eyed it idly. "Technically," he said watching her hold it "I've been sober now for more then a year." He smirked, watching the glass.

"That's what Sarah thinks at least," his eyes turned teasingly to Ginny. "Don't tell her that though. This round has gone about two months I believe." He shrugged. "It really isn't a top priority for me to stay off the drink. Sometimes you just need a few to uh, let lose."

He smiled to Ginny, looking her up and down, in other words, checking her out.

"Two months, hmm?" Ginny looked over the top of her glass with raised eyebrows.

"What's the longest you've then? Cause if it's less then 9 months, I have you beat!" She hadn't drank anything once she had become pregnant.

She hadn't seen him look her up and down, and actually, there was a lot to look at. She was young, pretty, and eye catching. Proven by how some of the other men were doing the same as Sirius. She didn't look like a mother, had lost every pound from her pregnancy like magic.
She still looked about 17, maybe 18 years old.

"Yes but seeing as how I can't get pregnant like you can...nuh, not that I would want to I'm just saying that you had to stay off the alcohol," he hit himself in the head laughing from idiocy. "Its my choice to not..." his mind lost him as he watched Ginny take a sip of her drink. He himself swallowed, watching her every movements.

"drink." He finished shaking his head in a whisper, trying to force the fantasy out.

"Didn't have to." Ginny said, grinning, "Choose to. For my baby."

"And you are right, you don't want to get pregnant...a lot of the 9 months is spent throwing up." She shrugged, then grinned, "The comes the whole birthing process...it's painful."

She hesitated then, the cheeriness fading from her voice, "And scary...when you're alone."

"Not everyone is alone. You can thank your dear Xaver for that." Sirius didn't know where that had come from. Anger had suddenly built up inside of him towards Xaver. He didn't know if it had been because Ginny had said that she was alone or what. It scared him as he spoke those words in no more then a whisper, his hands balled into fists. He shook for a moment, releasing the tension in his body.

He stared at Ginny, worried to see her reaction. "Sorry about that. I just let that slip."

Ginny frowned, "I was alone, actually."

She looked down into her glass, shaking her head slightly, "No one was there for me when I had Cody. I didn't even tell my mum."

Sirius listened to her closely, remembering the day he had spent with Ginny in the forest, the day he had kissed her. "I could have been there for you." He muttered looking into Ginny's eyes. "That was your choice that you had no one there. Do remember that Ginny."

Ginny chuckled darkly, "You wouldn't have been there, kiddo."

She took a deep drink, and leaned forward, "You would have hated me if I had told you I was pregnant." She'd been thinking about that day too, "You would have hated it, because I let you kiss me."

Suddenly she giggled, "S'okay. So I was alone. I deserved it, end of story."

"Neh, I wouldn't have hated it. Of course not, I could never hate you." He smiled to her politely, thinking of what it would have been like if he would have been there for Ginny while she was pregnant. He wondered silently if she would have returned to Xaver if Sirius would have been there to help her through her pregnancy. He could be with her here today if she would have let him help.

He shook his head, avoiding the painful thought of them being together. He knew they weren't and they wouldn't be ever. He must accept that.

"You would have hated it, because I let you kiss me."

Sirius looked at her thoughtfully. "I didn't think you remembered that."

He then thought for a moment about what she had just said. "Let me kiss you? You didn't let me because you had no idea I was about to do that."

"Could so hate me." She insisted, as the bartender gave her another drink She looked at it suspiciously, wondering if she should possibly slow down. She was starting to get dizzy.

She left the drink beside her, folding her hands in her lap.

"True, I'd had no clue." She agreed with him on that, "But it's not like I beat you up, or pushed you away."

Sirius watched her set the drink down and sighed. "You're right, I guess." He waved the waiter down, ordering a fire whiskey. He frowned, "I need a drink." He muttered as it was set in front of him. He stared at it for a moment before holding it, looking into it. "Here's to two months." He said clinking his glass to Ginny's on the table before taking a big swig of it.

He paused as the drink rushed through his body, burning his throat but he liked that it did. He had missed it. He closed his eyes for a moment before taking another drink, setting it on the table. "Your right you didn't beat me up nor did you push me away."

"So why didn't you just push me closer? If you knew you were going to have a child, why didn't you try and become close with someone that could help you take care of said child? You had no clue Xaver was going to return, so why did you go into seclusion rather then trying to get someone to be with you?"

"I..."

Ginny was caught off guard by his question. She looked down at her drink and picked it back up, taking a drink and shaking her head.

"I was scared, Sirius." She told him, her voice lowering and wavering. She looked down at her hands, "I was afraid that somebody else was going to leave me."

"Besides...I held onto the belief that Xav was coming back."

Sirius sighed, grabbing his drink and taking another sip, thinking. "I would say I understand, but I just don't understand you sometimes Ginny."

He looked her in the eyes then, his turning a deep purple. "I have another question."

He paused looking at her still, "Did you feel anything in that first kiss?"

Ginny thought for a moment, shaking her head, "To tell the truth, it was too fast. Didn't have time to feel anything but surprise..."

She drained her third glass, and as soon as she set it down, it was replaced by a new one. She was surprised by the efficiency of the bartender, and giggled lightly. She put her hand over her mouth, giggling even harder at herself for giggling over her surprise.

Then she she stopped, smiling at him, "You are one of the few people to ever catch me off guard."

Sirius smiled to her, enjoying her silliness and forgetting his own dedication to not drink. He finished his first drink and the bartender refilled his as well, slower but he didn't mind. He took a sip and swished it in his mouth, enjoying the taste. "I guess I have that way about me."

He laughed faking a smug presence about me. "Some girls find me," he leaned in, whispering in her ear calmly...


"irresistible."

He smiled, brushing her hair from her shoulder before leaning back to stare at Ginny, his emotions exciting and forgetting everything that he had. Sarah was far from his mind, along with all of his children, all that filled this empty space now was Ginny.

All Ginny and nothing more was what he saw in his head as he sat next to her. This new Ginny that he saw the giggly drinker made Sirius happy himself. Enjoying the company and especially the person that was keeping him company he took another sip of his drink, eyeing her casually and yet with much force.

"Oh really? Who told you that?" Ginny said, giggling again. She couldn't stop, actually. Everything just seemed so funny all of a sudden. She covered her mouth, forcing herself to stop giggling. Still, she was smiling as she looked up.

She was drinking way too fast to stay sober for long. And this wasn't butterbeer, this was firewhiskey. She wasn't a light weight, but three glasses in less than a half hour were a bit much.

"You know what I remember most about that night?" She asked him, taking another sip.

Sirius smiled from her cute laughter. There was something about it that he liked to hear it, maybe it was because he had never heard it before. Either way it brought a smile to his face all the same as he stared at her. He took another sip of his drink, not noticing Ginny's rate of drinking the glasses clean.

"What do you remember most about that glorious night?" He winked at her, waiting for her response.

"How tired I was. And how you helped me back to the castle." Ginny grinned, "Remember? I could hardly stand, cause I'd been not sleeping, and you picked me up and carried me. The only other person in the whole world who's ever done that kinda thing for me, you know, helped me when I couldn't help myself, was Xav."

A bit slurred, yes, but she got her point across. She wasn't comparing him with Xaver. Rather, she was putting him in about the same league.

Sirius nodded, remembering exactly how that night had gone. "You were light I remember." He laughed, Ginny always had been a bit lighter then Sarah.

"I'd always help a friend who needed help. Especially ," he moved his hand so it was on Ginny's elbow. He smiled a crooked smile with his white teeth at her, his eyes still dancing orange.

"for you..."

"Awwe," Ginny said, "Thank you, Sirius. You are such a sweetie."

She leaned towards him slightly, "I'm a horrible friend though." She said, her eyes widening. She was still smiling, and looked like an earnest child, "I'm not very nice, and never helpful at all."
She shook her head, "And nobody ever liked me much."

Ginny laughed outright now, "Not that I cared."

Sirius looked at Ginny, eyeing her curiously. "You're very helpful though, a-and nice!" He smiled, perking up at her and leaning in as well. He stared into her wide eyes, smiling casually still.

"Did you care about me?" He asked her quietly, calmly, and yet still with force.

Now she nodded, "Mmmmhmm, a lot."

Ginny finished her fourth drink, and basically stopped thinking about what number she was on. What did she have to worry about? Cody was with her parents, so she didn't have to run home to take care of him.
And as for Xaver.
Well, he was more capable of taking care of himself than she was.
Apparently.

"Why did you kiss me that night, Sirius?" She asked him, looking at him with bright eyes. She was no longer sober. Now her words ran unchecked.

Sirius noticed her drunk stature but didn't care, he thought for a moment, blinking but not leaving her gaze. "You've no idea how long I had had a crush on you." He laughed, remembering his school days. "You had been on my mind for about a week, so I decided to see if my feelings for you were real or not."

He finished his second drink and sighed.
"They were real."

As the waiter replaced his drink he laughed, rubbing his face and looking away from her, staring at his now full glass. "More real then I thought."

"But you were just a kid." Her words didn't make much sense. Sirius was about the same age as her. The real difference had been that she wasn't a student. He was.
And she'd always seen him that way.

Ginny giggled at him, though, "Why do so many people like me?" She said, still giggling, "You, and Conan, and Mahn, and Xaver...am I really that pretty?"

Sirius took a sip of his drink just as Ginny asked him that question. Out came the Firewhiskey all over the counter. He laughed as his face turned red and the bartender waddled over to clean it up. He sighed, thanking the man before turning back to Ginny. "Have you looked at yourself lately?"

"You're beautiful! That's not all I like about you though. Oh no there's tons more. Your wit, your cunning intelect, your stunning vocabulary. There's nothing bad about you."

He sighed looking at her, still smiling.
"Your like an angel."

"There is so bad stuff about me." Ginny whispered, ignroing the spilled Firewhiskey.

"Cause I shouldn't have ever let you kiss me that time." Back to that. She seemed to be thinking about that a lot. She leaned ever further towards him, so she had to look up at him, "I was in love with someone else, but I let you kiss me."

"That's bad."

Sirius peered down at her though there heights at this angle were almost not noticeable. "All the bad stuff is lost in my mind of you." He muttered sweetly in her ear.

He pulled back in a taunting like trance of leaning in then back out. "Ginny, you forget. I was in love to." He smiled, shuddering slightly thinking of Sarah. He forced her from his mind quickly, unwilling to think of how hurt she would be if she found out he had drank....

or worse.


(Eek. Reminding myself of her.)

"Mmm, you were." She agreed, and her eyes grew wide as she was given another drink.
At this rate, she was going to forget who she was soon.

"Didja ever wonder if maybe we hadn't already loved other people, we mighta loved each other?" Ginny asked. The question had just come to mind.

"I loved you even while I loved Sarah." He blurted out suddenly being very honest to the point of amberrasement.

"You though... I just don't know. I like to believe you would have or at least could have if you tried." He sighed, thinking of how things could have been different between them.

"But honestly I just don't know about you. You're harder to read then I would like to believe." He laughed. "I'm used to girls falling for me the minute they see me. You though, you never have and you probably never will."

"Well, you were my student." Ginny giggled, and leaned her head against his shoulder. She was suddenly very sleepy.

"You were a jerk to girls too...and I already loved Xaver when I met you." She nodded, her head still against his shoulder, "And I already loved him for a long time."

She didn't pull back, too tired to do so. Too tired to care what other's thought. She was drunk,and tired.

Sirius tried to control his breathing, looking at her from the corner of his eye. "But you thought he wasn't coming back. And we are merely a few years apart in age Ginny do remember that, and I was no jerk to girls." He paused, looking up at the bar, "Okay, so a few girls I was exceptionally rude to. They most certainly deserved it though."

"I never not once would have been mean to you, not to you of course not. I cared and still do care about you to much to ever let anything happen to that. And if ever you find that Xaver just isn't for you anymore, I'll be here. I was there once for you that night, I'd be there for you again and again. No matter what."

He smiled, "Especially if we were to re live that night, I would most definitely be there if you chose to oh I don't know, kiss me again." He stared down at her, half hoping she would say something but knowing she most likely wouldn't. He knew she didn't feel the same way about him as he did for her, but where was the harm in trying he thought.

He waited to see what she would have to say about that.

Ginny kept her head still, but somehow looked up at him, "I hate being left behind." She muttered, her mood growing dark and angry.

And for some reason she couldn't quite explain, she picked her head up. Still leaning forward, her face was close to his. Their breath intermingled, but she didn't seem to notice. She was looking into his eyes, her brow furrowed as she focused on them.

"Why do so many people leave me behind?"

She'd never be able to explain what happened next, except that she leaned forward, allowing their lips to touch.
It wasn't as electric as her and Xaver's kisses were, nothing could ever equal that. But it was still a kiss, and not a peck. She held her lips on his for a moment, then pulled back slightly.

And her face grew red, and she sat back, and covered her face with her hands.
"Oh no...what did I just do?"

Sirius's eyes widened as he stared down at her. He found no words but only surprise on his cold hard face. He almost looked dead. He slowly let his mouth drop open in amazement, staring down at Ginny. His face turned red, as he smiled bigger then ever. He still could not speak. Merely stared at her in amazement. "Wha-"

He still found no words. His heart felt like leaping onto the table and doing the Cha-cha. It pounded deeply in his chest, he feared she could feel it.

He blinked hard, before he started laughing. He breathed a happy sigh and looked at her. "Wow... We're even now." That was all he could muster to say.

He had just kissed Ginny Weasley. His mind spun as he grabbed his drink and took a long sip. He didn't know what to say still, fearing that he was imagining it he turned back to her. "Did we just? Did you just. Kiss..." He couldn't find words to put in a sentence, they all came out jumbled. "You, me, kiss, you... You kissed me." He nodded to himself, happy to finally find words.

Xaver couldn't remember, particularly, why he'd gone out to find Ginny.
He'd stopped by the house, then by Molly and Arthur's, and had affirmed Cody's stay. The little boy asleep, however, Xaver had gone off in search of his soon-to-be bride, not sure what had spawned the idea to interrupt her. It had been important..
It didn't matter, anymore.


He'd entered the building in the wake of a rather burly woman, though, in no rush, he'd held open the door for a young couple, offering a polite smile and a nod, releasing the door as they passed him, his eyes flickering upward as his senses caught familiar voices, across the room. Caught them as they faded off, and as Ginny pressed into Sirius, and their lips touched..

Xaver stared, in a sick, facinated horror, his heart catching, and lodging in his chest, even as they drew away, colored of face, and murmuring words he didn't bother catch.

He made to them, very slowly, in much of a trance, booted feet brushing the floor in light, agile steps, his lean, impressive figure clad in dark pants, and a dark, deep blue sweater that enhanced the glow in the moody oceans of his eyes. Though that glow, usually dancing just beneath the surface of his creature, was strangely absent, his gaze shuttered, and cold. He stepped quietly, easily around the other's in his way, making a direct line, until he was a few feet from their table. He paused, at an empty booth, and casually leaned against it, arms folding across the expanse of his chest.

At Sirius's comments, he felt oddly bemused.
Numb.
"Not the cleverest b!t(h in the pack, are you, Monsieur Black?"

The corners of his mouth tipped upward into the phantom of a smile - the devastation behind such a smile hidden behind the gaze that gave away nothing.
A smile, that mirrored those of his youth. Empty, dispassionate, and soulless, for the sole reason of protecting himself.

"She did, indeed, kiss you. Did you not, my love?"
His tones had never been more harsh toward her. And never before, had he ever used an endearment only aside for her, mockingly.

Xaver didn't look at Ginny.
He refused to, even as he pushed himself from the empty booth, and slowly, strides dangerous, made his way to them.

At his first words, Ginny lowered her hands, her face becoming deathly pale. She opened her mouth,as though to say something, but snapped it shut when Xaver turned on her.
Never had he ever, spoken to her like that.
Never had he spoken a harsh word to her.
That alone was enough to scare her into silence.

And the worst part of it was,she was still drunk. And each feeling was only a half of what it would have been if she were sober. Which meant that this feeling, deep in her chest, was horrible beyond words.

"Xaver..." She began, then stopped. What could she say? She looked at him, pain flashing across her face.

Sirius closed his eyes, now wishing it were a dream. Although, if it were then Ginny would not be sitting in his presence next to him having just kissed him so wishing it were a dream was a panic need rather then a real wanting. He tried not to look at Xaver, afraid that if he did his whole life would flash before his eyes. He breathed heavily, turning away from Xaver as he walked up, dreading every step he heard.

"She did, indeed, kiss you. Did you not, my love?"

He finally turned, looking at Xaver. "What's it to you if she did?" He laughed, taking another swig of his drink and trying not to push his luck to much. Although enjoying what Ginny had just did still. His heart hammered loudly, it was hard to tell if it was because of what Ginny had just done or what he feared Xaver might do. He waited, watching Xaver's expression, fearing him but not turning away from him.

He swallowed another sip, watching as Xaver came towards them, he suddenly smelt rather smaller then before, smaller then he was in fact but Xaver was making it hard to not think in this manner. He waited with baited breath to see what he would

...do.

It hadn't, particularly, been the way he had been raised, but it had always been very much in Xaver's strict, adamant morals, and lifestyle, that he had never spoken ill of Ginny. Never, in all the years of knowing her, had he ever cursed at her. He had never cursed her name, and anger, it had always seemed, simply wasn't in him, for her.
Was this it?
He didn't know.

Ginny breathed his name, and his heart ached like a wound so deep when he breathed, it stung, and as if when his heart beat, it bled.
The hurt, wounded him.
The fact that he did hurt, and had no way to heal himself. More, that Ginny...

He didn't know how to feel.

Love..
The word, that once he had feared, and had come to accept - then come to know.. it tasted suddenly foul.
Tainted, on his lips.


"What's it to you if she did?"

Xaver's gaze bored into Sirius's face, watching but unseeing. Caring too little, anymore, to enter what he saw, into his brain.
He paused after the other male's comment, then shook his head, very slowly.

"Everything."

"Wait," Ginny said, her voice shaking and shallow. "It's not...I mean, it isn't..." Her words trailed off and she found that she was shaking.
His calmness was scaring her. His lack of emotion was terrifying.
If anybody in this world knew Xaver, it was her. And to be calm was a usual reaction for him. But this wasn't something he would usually react to.

"Xaver, I'm..." She closed her eyes, knowing without him even saying, that he didn't want to hear her sorry.

She was an idiot. A heartless, cruel, bit(h. She opened her eyes and looked at Xaver, begging with her gaze.

"Everything."

Sirius looked at Xaver for a moment. He saw that he was hurt and part of him felt pity. The other part, well, Sirius didn't know the other part he himself saw, but it was there just the same. He nodded to Xaver, "If it makes you feel any better it wasn't as good as when you and her kiss. It was still pretty amazing though I must say. She's a very good kisser. Took me off guard really. I enjoyed it all the same." He smiled, smirking at Xaver before taking another sip of his drink, he noticed it was almost empty and shook his head sighing.

"Next time I'll have to be sure and make sure she's sober. Then it'll really be good." He smiled, draining the glass before turning back to Xaver.

He didn't speak a word, merely stared into the Fallen King's eyes, a taunting smile upon his face still. Part of him felt bad, sure, but the other part of Sirius wanted to seek some sort of revenge. He didn't know what Xaver had done at the moment, but Sirius just wanted to cause him pain, to get him back for whatever it was he had done.

He hoped it was working.

{the little bit of powerplay was granted by permission. (still, if you want me to change anything, no prob there, either)}


"You're what?" Xaver toned coldly, for the first time, looking at Ginny, since he'd seen them kissing.

Sirius intervened, then, and Xaver looked back to him.
Very still.
Very quiet.
Disturbingly calm, as the other male openly sneered.


It was working.


It was a blur of motion, when the Fallen King snapped.
Within a heartbeat, Xaver was gone from where he had been standing idly, to gripping Sirius's throat, dragging the man from the booth, and slamming him into the nearest wall with enough force to implode the brick.

"You are cold, ignorant sloth," he hissed darkly, leaning into Sirius, speaking into his ear as if to a lover. As if he were speaking to Ginny. Though the hatred that burned within him was not stoked for her.
Not yet.

Xaver's grip tightened, his fingernails, even if tastefully short, embedding roughly into Sirius's skin, drawing blood that dribbled, aimlessly, in rivulets down the expanse of his throat. Xaver pressed harder, cutting off his airway.

"I wouldn't kill you," he murmured, darkly. "I would.. skin you. I would enjoy the slow, agonizing process of ..tearing you apart. And, you would watch me do it. Watch, as you bled from every f__king orifice you possess in the sack of bones you so pathetically inhibit."

Xaver released Sirius, then brought down his elbow in one swift, hard motion, connecting hard with the other male's face, and sending him spiraling, mouth surely full of blood and rearranged teeth.

"You called me a monster. You claimed me one not of your own..."
Xaver's jaw hardened.
"You were right, weren't you?"
He delivered a sweeping, harsh kick to the underside of Sirius's jaw.

Xaver's eyes blazed, darkening, and growing angrier by every passing moment.

((Ohhh, I can't even begin to express the unease in my belly...))

Ginny jumped up, standing now, her hands covering her mouth. Shocked, first by Sirius's words. Then, even more so by Xaver's actions. Then her hands dropped, "Don't, please...Xaver."

On the verge of tears. She took half a step towards him, then stopped, not daring any closer. He was angry. Oh so very angry.

And he had every right to be.
Still, she couldn't believe this was her fault.

Sirius moaned, but that was all he could do. He wanted to fight back, his mind told him to. He couldn't though. He couldn't move a muscle, nor could he talk. He merely held up his hands to his face now, trying to avoid the blow.

He failed, miserably. His head whipped backwards and no words could describe the pain that was all over his face. His hands fell limply to his side, unable to defend himself though he was failing miserably before. He merely stayed in his position, trying not to move his neck at all.

Blood mixed with tears and who knows what else coated Sirius's face and hair. His mouth was immovable though if it were movable he imagined it would cause more pain then he was already in. His whole face felt hot from the warm blood that seemed to come from all places. He couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't breathe, could only think of what he would do if he had the, well, face to do so.

Xaver was losing grip with himself.
There was a sort of sick satisfaction that crawled in his belly at the sound of his boot connecting with the underside of Sirius's face.
Some kind of heady contentment to the potent scent that now filled his senses – the blood, that now coated Sirius's face, and throat, and dribbled from the mess of his mouth.

There was a primal, animal instinct, in Xaver – that only wished to continue.

There was a definite glint, somewhere in the moody, impossibly dark oceans of his eyes, that threatened, with no doubt, that Xaver could deliver and make his threat reality. A need, to not only abuse the man that lay now crumpled before him – but to destroy him. To literally tear him to pieces.


It was Ginny's voice, to which the rationality in him responded.
Her pleading, scared tones, that shook him back into the reality of what he'd done.
And what they, had done.

"He called us the same thing Umbridge called us," he said, tones empty. The us in which he spoke of, could have been he and Cody, or all of the Fallen. "Monsters."

Finally, Xaver's dark orbs flickered over to meet Ginny's. His own shuttered.
He was as closed off, from her, as he had been the day she had first met him, those many years ago. Locked, behind impenetrable barriers, and sealed by the hurt, that now coerced through his veins.

"He claimed you deserved a human mate. Perhaps he thought himself the candidate?"

He shook his head. Discreetly, an expression broke across his face, the handsome features pinched.

"And you took him?..."
Never before, had he known such a confusion, within.
"You chose.. him?"

His gaze fell, the emotion that had escaped, forced violently away.

"No." Soft and insistant, Ginny pushed the word with all the force she could. She saw him close himslef off, and that hurt more than anything.
He wouldn't even admit that it hurt him.

"No, no. Xaver, never..." She shook her head, "No. I wasn't thinking. I would never.." She was still white as a sheet, and her voice still shook with tears that had now begun to show.

"I'm just...it's just that..." She faltered, looking at him brought such heart ache.

What had she done?

Despite all the similarities, and basic complimentary genetics, Xaver was in no way, shape, or form, human.
Then, from blood, he was also not socially adapted and fluent to the human realm of living.
Xaver was a full-blooded Fallen  - and only in his late teenage years, did he even start to try and understand and accept their different way of life.

There were still, so many basic human concepts that his kind didn't bother to fathom.
Appliances.
Divorce.
Things, that were rare. Appliances were a very human item. And divorces, were more or less virtually unheard of within the Fallen.
As were, in complete honesty, marriages.
Because of prolonged life, many took it upon themselves to take all the time in their world to settle with a sole mate. And, upon if, when they settled with the sole mate, it was generally forever.
Marriages were supposed to be a testament to eternity – and the Fallen were naturally very selective, and took their time.

Xaver and Ginny were not married.

Xaver had, however, proposed.
He'd offered her, that side of him.
He'd offered her himself, for whatever eternity would await them.

Now, that she'd kissed another man...

He was first, to question himself, in his confusion.
What had he done wrong?
Had he been away too long, that she'd changed her mind?

Ginny denied it, but Xaver, suddenly, was sure of nothing.
The very base of the foundation that truly held him together, unraveling.

"I'm just...it's just that..."


She faltered, and he started to turn away, but instead, stalled. His gaze flickered over her, tired, and beyond confused.

"You are intoxicated. You should go home."

Dismissal.
That's what his words sounded like.
Dismissal would mean the end to everything. The end to them.
She couldn't live with that.

"No, wait." Ginny struggled to stop her tears, struggled to keep from apologizing. She knew an apology wasn't enough. Wasn't anywhere near enough.

Her body shook, violently, and she couldn't stop herself. She was still very much drunk, after all. The tears streamed down her cheeks, and her voice came out strangled. She rambled, then, not being able to stop.
"I'm sorry...you don't know how sorry. Oh christ, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...I didn't even want to...I don't know why I did..."

She paused,taking a large breath, and wrapping her arms around herself to try and stop the shaking. She glanced at Sirius, but didn't really see him. She looked back at Xaver.
"I know you don't want me to say it. I know it isn't good enough, but I'm so sorry, Xaver. "

"I've played this d**n game too much, and I always hurt someone. I'm sorry I didn't warn you, I'm sorry I hurt you, I love you. You're the last person I ever want to hurt."
She took another deep, shuddering breath. Trying to stop her tears, trying to stop her words.

But the next words forced themselves out, in a very visible way. Her body jerked with each word, breath wrenching out of her at each sound.
"But it's not like you never hurt me."

Why had she said that? This didn't even compare.
Or did it?
Xaver, despite all that he tried, was like everyone else Ginny had ever cared about. He loved her--or had, she wouldn't really blame him if he didn't anymore-- but in the end, he left.
Always something more important.
Over and over again.
He might not remember the three years he'd been gone. But she did, dam.nit, she remembered every godam.ned second he'd been gone. It had hurt.
It had demolished her heart.

She placed a hand over her heart, and looked at him.
It hurt to look at him.
She looked down, at the floor.
"I'm sorry." She repeated, still crying. Still shaking, though not as violently.
She hurt for hurting him. She hated herself. "I'm so sorry."

A loud moan was released from the heap on the ground that was Sirius. He rolled over painfully, so he was on his stomach. He carefully placed his hands onto the cold floor and lifted his torso, his legs following. He sat up on his knees, unable to much else. He desperately tried to stand, but the pain blood that came from his mouth made it hard to focus on anything but it. After a moment of balancing on his knees he gave up trying to stand and flopped over, placing his forehead on the wall and keeping his eyes shut.

You practically defaced me you bastad! He thought in his head openly so they could hear him as he was in no state to speak out loud.

This was his cue to leave... He was supposed to not want anything to do with her, and he'd kicked the living hell out of Sirius. His role was well-played, wasn't it? He was supposed to walk out of there, and he'd soon get over it. Right? It was the same, overused storybook scheme, where the main character goes through heartbreak, before finding true happiness, right?
Xaver's stomach rolled.

It was all wrong.
He loved Ginny.
He knew that loving her, even amidst all this confusion... just wasn't something that would ever cease to be.

She apologized.
Sweeping over him with a tear-filled gaze, she apologized. He knew, well, the games, and hurt, and love, she spoke of.
She cursed him.
And Xaver knew, just as well, how deep and thoroughly he'd hurt her, too.

Xaver rocked back onto his heels as if he'd been delivered a physical blow, clenching his jaw as his gaze moved from Ginny, to Sirius, his expression turning scathing before he looked away, and drew back that air of carelessness. It was a mask - harshly concealing the destructive, crazed hurt and confusion that was boring a hole straight into his heart. Was she blaming him? For him, being away for so long, multiple times? Was she blaming his wrongs for her... kissing. Sirius.?
He looked back at Ginny, as she looked at him, fingertips brushing the fabric of her shirt over her heart, before her gaze fell, and his heart refused to freeze. He could have sworn it had, instead, simply quit beating.


"Come here."

It was not a demand, nor a plea.
It was an offer.

His hands lifted, very slightly, but enough to offer his embrace, to her.

Xaver had never told Ginny what to do - for he had always respected her too much, and he'd always been the wiser knowing that she'd never listen to a command, anyway. She wasn't the type to be ordered around, just as he wasn't the type to force her to do anything.
It had to be her choice, now, anyway.
Xaver had never known, before, such confusion in his heart - nor had he ever endured the pain of such intermixed jealousy and sense of betrayal - as well as care, and love, and compassion, that simply refused to wane in him. The want, for the whole ordeal to be behind them, came suddenly, and instantaneously. The hate for Sirius that borderlined that of his brother, came even quicker.


The truth of the matter was, Xaver loved Ginny. He knew he'd hurt her many times, deeply. He knew the pain her actions had wrought just now had wounded him deeply, and would not fade overnight. He knew also, however, that he couldn't function without her. He could never go home, or face himself, and his true conscience. He realized, in a harsh, quick manner, how deeply Ginny actually had reached him. He was not himself, his true self, without her.
He loved her.

Instinct told him to walk away.
Everything else refused.

((Last two lines...okay the whole dam.n post, was good.))

"Come here." Xaver raised his hands, and held them for her. He offered an embrace, and Ginny stood there, unbelieving. She took another half step forward, then faltered. She looked to Sirius, bloodied, hurt on the floor and froze. Xaver's anger still terrified her. He still scared her. Not that he would ever hurt her physically. She had no fear of that.
She was afraid that if she went to him, it would be for him to say goodbye.
She didn't want that.
She took another step forward, and practically fell into him, wrapping her arms around his middle and putting her head on his chest.
"I'm so sorry, Xaver."

Then her arms tightened, her whole body did, as her mental barriers began to break. Alcohol affects psychics in a drastic way. Not only does it impair their judgment, their thinking, their feelings. It breaks down any barriers they've held up to avoid unwanted empathic and telekinetic intrusions. Memories now, where Ginny's problem.

"Thank you, Xaver,"
"Yup," he said, letting go of her hands.
She kissed him on the cheek, "Seriously, thanks."

"Yes, you have to trust me."
"I... I do..." he said slowly.

He turned to look at her, wordless, noting that her fingers were still slightly touching his, and that there was a certain warmth spreading up his spine.
Ginny followed his gaze and blushed, before pulling her hand back. "Sorry," she murmured.
Xaver coughed, and flushed a deeper shade as her, though shaking his head."Don't be," he said softly.

"I couldn't take any power from you..." She said softly. It wasn't that she couldn't, she didn't want to.
"I insist, Ginny," he whispered in return. "I won't have you struggling with anything I might be able to help. Please. There's years of pent up energy and magic stored within me. You can't do harm. It might help with me being so hyper all the time. Maybe you can fix my snotness." He smiled down at her, softly squeezing her hand.

Ginny leaned forward and kissed Xaver, lightly on the lips, then let go of his hand and took a step back, "Thank you," she said, before looking away.
"You are welcome. Literally. Whenever." Xaver gently hooked his finger under her chin, looking into her eyes for a long moment. He smiled slightly, then returned her kiss with one of his own, almost sighing aloud as his lips met hers. That electricity revved up through them, numbing their brains.

"You better stop being nice to me," he said, finishing off the muffin. "Seriously. You'd better stop, or I'll show you just what muffin slobber is." He grinned at her, and began to chuckle quietly.
"Thank you," he said after a while, quietly.

Ginny jerked in her sleep suddenly and rolled, falling off the couch. She landed on the floor with a light thud.
"Ow..." She moaned, sitting up and rubbing her head where it had smacked the floor. She still wasn't fully awake.
"Are you alright?"  Xaver watched her with a concerned interest. On a thought, he withdrew his barrier around her.
"Yeah. But these floors are hard..." She muttered, still half asleep. Xaver got up, knelt and easily picked her up, and gently set her on the couch.
"I know it." He scowled at the floor, then smiled at her, somewhat playfully. She smiled back, and yawned, her eyes half open. Xaver noticed she was still half-asleep and chuckled, patting her shoulder.
"Go back to sleep, if you want. You look exhausted."
"No...I'm okay." She yawned again, and, despite what she said, leaned sideways onto the arm of the couch. Her eyes flickered shut, even as she attempted to keep them open.
"Yeah, you are." Xaver smirked, then pulled a blanket off the chair back and dropped it over her.
"Right...I'm okay.." She murmured, drifting in and out, even while she spoke.
"Yep." Xaver smiled at her, then turned and sat, his back against the couch. Ginny fell back to sleep and murmured something softly, too low to understand. It might have been something neither of them was exactly ready to say.

"My twin inherited my father's genes. He's irrational. Not to say that I am rational... But whatever doesn't hate me, or more particularly, anyone I like, he does not." Xaver smiled again. He liked the closeness of her, even if the very scent of her shampoo made him lightheaded. She was.. just right.
"He likes to make a scene." He said, as a way to explain.
"He sounds spoiled." She said, rolling her eyes.
"He is," Xaver said, taking some delight in her expression.
"He wouldn't try to hurt you or Kyllie directly, would he?" She asked, suddenly worried. His face fell after a moment, and he nodded grimly.
"Yes, he would. I have the scars to prove it. He has enough from me. I don't like fighting him, Ginny, he is my brother. He knows most of my secrets, down to the way I learned to fight, when we were younger. But I have changed, as he has. I don't know my brother anymore. But I have no association other than violence toward anyone who tries to hurt Kylie. Or you..."

He glanced at her lips, and suddenly noticed how close she was. And how long her eyelashes were.
-Can I kiss you?-
-Okay-
Slowly, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips, savoring the buzz he found there, enjoying it. Ginny didn't want him to pull away, the electricity they shared was enough to power her body for weeks.
-Okay.-

"Brother really likes you. I can tell. Do yous like my brother?" Kylie stuck out her tongue slightly in concentration, as she finally found a piece of candy.
"Yes, Kylie. I really like your brother."

-I thought...I might never...see you again...-
-Nothing and no one could ever keep me from coming back to you, except your own will, Ginny. I-..-
His pale cheeks colored slightly.
"You what?" She asked, out loud, softly.
"I love you.... Did you know that?.." he said softly, hesitantly.
"Xaver, I know...a lot of things. But I didn't know that. I guessed that, but I didn't want to go and have your mind think it before you were ready to say it." She said, she looked at him.
"One of the things I know, is that I love you."

"Ginny..." he began, his tones low and thick with emotion. But he cut his words short. Instead of, however, backing away, he remained still, his eyes watching her form.
Redirecting.. "Thank you for helping me."
They were so close, and she heard her heartbeat in her ears. She swallowed, but kept her eyes locked onto his.
"You know I don't mind helping someone in need."
"I know you don't.But you did not have to." He paused, "I have missed you. More than you know," he said softly.
Ginny looked at him, and watched him. Without thinking, she stepped forward, closing the little space between them. She placed her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes.
"I am sorry, love. It will never happen again. I will never let it. Never will I leave you. For not only be it too unbearable, but impossible.."
He kissed her forehead.

-Maybe I don't want people who are helpless to try and help me.-
Xaver looked at her.
-..And you think me helpless, Ginny?-
-Maybe. Of course, I'd never really know, you being gone 90% of the time and all.- Her words were cruel, fueled by anger.

She simply looked at the letter in her hand, finding the whole thing hard to believe. Two months pregnant? She couldn't be, it couldn't be. She was going to be a mom? Alone?

"And who is he?"
"Xaver." Ginny said the name softly, and Cody looked up at her. His eyes zoomed across the room to Xaver.
He smiled, "That was my daddy's name."
"Was your daddy's name?" Xaver looked shocked, and somewhat hurt at this. He looked between Ginny and Cody with confusion.

"If there's anything I've learned, while I've been away – it's that there's nothing truly like what I feel.. when I'm with you. I love you, Ginny. And I have never known that so strongly..."
He paused, seemingly to gather himself.
"Would you be mine, love? Would you marry me?"

"I have one request of you if you want to stay with me and Cody," She told him now, her voice soft, but firm.
"That is?"
"You must never, ever break his heart."
"You mean, like I broke yours?"

She kissed his lips, looking down on him with a smile, "I don't know about the wedding, my love. But as long as you are the groom and I the bride, it sounds perfect."

"I know..." Ginny said, not looking at him, and her voice caught in her throat, "I know...I don't want him to die...he just came back to me...how do I help him?" She looked towards the man, tears in her eyes.
"You have to know! Tell me what to do!" She practically begged him. This was so unlike Ginny, she never begged for anything. But she begged now, she would, for Xaver, she'd do anything.
"Please...help him...help me help him..." She pulled Xaver's body closer to hers, ignorant of the blood and put her face against the top of his head, hiding her tears-now coursing down her cheeks-in his black hair.

Gently, very gently, Xaver reached out and took her fingers within his, bringing her arm up, and with his other hand, pulled away the towel with as little force as he could manage.
He bowed his head over her arm, and pressed soft kisses along the line of her cut - and when he withdrew, the cut was gone. Healed, with little traces of his power, in light blue, fading lights, about the spot.

Ginny was crying again, sobbing and holding him tightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Xaver. I'm so, so sorry. You do so much for me. I love you, please don't leave me."
One of her biggest fears in the world.
"Please don't leave me. I need you. I love you. Please."

( :'( *claps.*)

((Awe, thanks. Now we just have to wait for Xaver. GET YOUR BUTT IN HERE XAV!))

(Note to self: Don't give Ginny sharp objects when Xaver doesn't get on. We could all be mascaraed.)

((Xaver, IMMAEATCHUUUU. Post. Now.))

(I LOVED THAT POST, GIN. I will now be off to nibble on it. =D hehhehheh)




One never knows their limits until they are pushed, or the extent of an injury, without the pain of some manner, or the state of true feelings, until they are threatened, or starved. The truth had hit him many years before, but it had taken until this, until now, for Xaver to truly understand. To know and comprehend what he had been in an odd sort of conclusion about from the first time he had seen Ginny. It had, in an overwhelming sense, scared him witless before.
He understood it now.

Xaver loved her.
She was much a part of him, as his own beating heart.
Which was, suddenly, in no way concluding, or terrifying..
It was real.


He saw her hesitate, and his breath lodged in his throat, his heart drumming a bruise into the underside of his ribs. A million doubts flooded him, threatening to drown him.
Was she changing her mind..?
Was he out of his own mind?

Ginny fell into him, and those doubts faded to a lesser confusion, and an oddly content sort of despair, his arms wrapping around her form and drawing her close into the circle of his arms.
He pressed his face into the satin, red tresses of her hair, as she apologized once more, and broke down, her mental barriers slipping, and her thoughts linking with his own.

Her memories ravaged him.

When it was, that the barrage of thoughts and emotions dimmed down, back to a limited quantity through which he could stand, Xaver drew in a very slow, ragged breath, breathing in the scent of her tears, and the very tangible smell of her shampoo, as well as her distress, and her fear. He was as well an empath, and he knew her better than he'd ever care to know any other – her emotions were not hidden from him. They were, in a sense, on full display. It was her openness, and the solid honesty that was the backbone of such openness, that he found his own strength to hold her closer. Tighter.
Drawing her to him until there was no remaining room between them, absorbing her sobs and her words into the wall of the chest the pressed into.
The smell of the liquor about her was strong.
Strong enough to warp her manner of choices.
But not nearly enough to make her forget.
Or to push her beyond understanding.


Xaver swallowed around the lump in his throat that threatened to push his own emotion to the surface, fighting his own feelings back, though there was no mistaking the brisk, silvery liquid that clouded his dark, moody blues as he hooked a finger beneath her chin, and met her gaze.

"I know what you feel. I know you... didn't mean..."
He paused, to collect himself.

"I love you, Ginny. You and Xerxes are my life. My home. I could never leave you. Not truly."
Pain, brutal and sharp, burned back to a searing life, just beneath the surface. Reminding him, with no mercy, his own trespasses against his family. Hurt stung the backs of his eyes, and, his gaze only on hers, he didn't fight it away.
He spoke in her thoughts, now.
Speaking to her, beyond the alcohol-induced haze.
-You are the only one, for me, you know. My only and the only, that completes me. I will not force you to do anything against your wishes... If you wish to remain as you are and find a human lover, I won't stop you. Even if it kills me. But I want you for my own, Ginny. I want you in my eternity. ...But a selfish old Fallen, like me... wants all of you.-

His moody orbs glanced to Sirius, before fixing, solidly, upon Ginny.

Memories still trudged through her mind, but his voice cut above all of them. She heard his words, but couldn't respond. His words meant the world to her. That he loved her, that he didn't plan on leaving her was too joyous to comprehend in her drunken state.
She couldn't control her thoughts enough to string together a response.
The memories were becoming harsh now.
Painful, even as they were joyful.

"So your the girl who moved into the cottage up the road?" An older women peering at Ginny. Inspecting her.
Ginny smiled, "Yes." She is keeping the scowl from her face as the women's eyes move to her ever growing belly. The women has dislike written across her face. Her thoughts are easy to read.
Unwed pregnant teenagers. What is this world coming to?
Ginny's fists clench. How she wants to tear this woman's throat out.

"Sam, I can't do it. I need Xaver...I can't do this by myself!" She is crying, sobbing. Can't breath.
"You have to, Ginny! If you don't do it for you, do it for your child. Xaver's child!"
Ginny looked at him through tear filled eyes, "Fine."

Ginny held her newborn, exhausted, but so incredibly happy. She kissed his forehead, watching him sleep in the crook of her arm.
"My baby." She whispered, "My angel."

Cody as a chubby baby, sitting in a highchair, food all over the place. He clapped his hands, "Momma! Hungry!"

Two year old Cody, standing on the road near their home, facing away. His wings were out, folded against his back, and he shivered in the wind. His hair moved as the wind blew, and he let his wings out, wrapping them around himself to keep warm. He looked at Ginny, his face dirty and streaked from tears.
"Did my daddy love before he died?"

"Momma? Were you and Daddy in love?"
"Yes angel."

"Momma!" Cody shaking her in the middle of the night, "You were screaming! Are you alright, Momma?"
Ginny looked at him, moving over in the bed, "Lie with me, angel? Keep me safe from bad dreams, ok?"
Cody smiling as he climbs up beside her, "Course! Cause I'm you protector Momma."

The last, from only a few weeks ago. "Xerxes Codium Xian, I don't know what kind of fit you decided to have, but if you don't get your butt down here now, it's going to be plenty sore in a few minutes!"
Cody folded his arms, "No!"
"Cody. Now!" He makes no move to come from the sky to her. She sighs, "What do you want me to do, Cody?" She asked, "I can't get a hold of him! I've been trying, angel, but it's like the last time...." Ginny's voice cracked, and faltered, and she stopped speaking.

Ginny forced words out, as her grip weakened, "I tried, Xaver. I tried so hard. I don't think I can do it alone anymore, Xaver...oh baby, I love you. Don't...please don't leave..."
She leaned against him, her weight almost entirely upon him now.
So dizzy.
So tired.
"..me. I love..."

Her eyes closed, even as thoughts went through her mind once more.

"..you. No one else. You..."

Her words were soft, and muffled against his chest, but, even amongst the upset of the tavern, and the hammering of his own heart, her tones had never been clearer.
He drew her to him, as she began to weaken, holding up her weight with little effort, and as she faded, and her soft words met him, he cast one last, scathing look in Sirius's direction, before bending down, and linking one arm beneath Ginny's knees, the other wrapped about her back, scooping her up into the circle of his arms, and holding her protectively close. He closed eyes that were burning with the restraint of holding back the tears that threatened so closely, and they were gone.

They appeared in their bedroom, and Xaver drew in a slow, uneven breath, gently depositing Ginny onto her side of the bed before perching at the edge, at her feet. Knowing now, that they were alone, and that Cody was safe with his grandparents, Xaver busied himself with the task of untying Ginny's shoes. Gently, and very slowly undoing the laces, and pulling them free, pulling her feet from her shoes, and then her socks, and tossing the articles into a small pile, on the floor.
Fighting back the knot in his throat.
Still very slowly, and with loving precision, he unclipped her cloak, and slid it out from beneath her, rising to manually hang it on the rack, beside the door. He hung it up, then paused for a moment, watching her from a distance, despite the ever looming nearness, uncertainty crossing him with such a force that tears clouded his vision, and his breath caught in his chest.

Xaver blinked, and jerked slightly as the pools at the corner of his eye spilled over, leaving a cool, salty trail. His hand flew to his face, and he frowned in both utmost confusion, and horror, skimming his fingers over his cheek, and trailing the wet droplet.

What was this?

He was leaking from his eyes?


Somewhere, in the back of his mind, it registered that he was crying.
He'd seen Cody cry, many times. And Ginny, and multiple others.
He, himself, however...

Xaver couldn't remember the last time he'd felt the sensation.
He supposed he must have been a child..   He must have cried at some point.
...He couldn't remember at all.


He stared, in both wonder and suppressed facination, at the silvery liquid that now stained his fingertips.

Unlike Cody, whom was half Human, and had not, obviously gained all of the Fallen traits, Xaver was a full Fallen, his heritage having remained isolated, for so long, amongst his own people, and his distant ancestors. His tears, were not the clear, salty goodness of normal tears. They were, indeed, salty, and damp droplets of the same principal, but instead, they were literally of a silver tint. Like watery, silver paint..

Ginny muttered something in her sleep, rolling over towards the middle of the bed and hugging herself. She pulled her knees up, curling up in the fetal position s many people do during nightmares.

"..Orry...so sorry..." She mumbled. She shivered in her sleep, her barriers still broken down completely. Allowing all empathic and psychic vibrations to enter her dreams.
She could feel his sadness.
She knew, though not consciously, that he was crying.
And she still apologized.

"Love you...Xav."

((Gonna stop trying to outdo Xaver. Cause I FAIL. XD))

Her words, shook him from his trance. Her tones, brought him back from the upset of a new reality, and brought him foreword, one foot, after the other, to her. Slowly, he slipped out of his shoes, and socks, and his shirt, as well, then, not bothering with the rest, he dropped onto the soft bedding, scooting up behind her, and wrapped an arm about her middle, drawing her slender form flush against him, and bowing his face into the silken locks of the shock of her red hair.
Xaver murmured to her, soft, and reassuring words, holding her close, his wings shaking off their vanished state, and one wrapping around her, atop his arm, covering her from shoulder, to beyond her feet, like a thick, effective blanket. So that she was literally wrapped up in the hold of a Fallen - in every literal and personal means - within his protective embrace.

It wasn't long, before sleep overtook him, and, face bowed over her shoulder, he followed her to slumber..

Pain...in her head. Her heart. Though at first, Ginny couldn't recall why. She closed her eyes tight against the pains she felt.
Then snapped them open with the memory of the night before. The sun had risen, and in their sleep, they had distangled slightly. Ginny pulled herself away from him, almost falling off the bed in her attempt to get away.

She didn't deserve that.
His holding her.
His apparent forgiveness.

She stumbled as she climbed off the bed, tripping herself up. But she didn't fall. She bit her lip to avoid making noise and made her way to the bathroom. Her head and heart hurt. But at least she could do something about her head..

Ginny felt around in the cupboard behind the mirror, looking for some advil or something. She was still slightly dizzy.
And she couldn't stop recalling the night in jumbled, jerky scenes.

Had she really kissed Sirius? Dam.nit, yes.
Had Xaver seen that, truthfully? Oh yeah.
Had he really forgiven her, at least for the night? Apparently.

"Dam.nit!" She yelled, swiping everything off the sink with her hand. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, a hairbrush, soap, assorted bottles, all fell to the floor with a muffle crash. She touched her head, "I'm so stupid!"

He dreamt of meadows.
Long, streaming meadows in the crevices between rolling, lush mountainsides, the grasses thick and swaying in a breeze in a rhythmic, sensual dance, moving like liquid. He flew above the scenery, clothed in nothing but an armored plate over his lower middle, wings and arms spread wide, soaking up the sunlight, and the wind. He flew with the freedom of the wild, and there was nothing that could stop him... He was free...
Loud sounds, as nerve-racking as the heavy clanging of pots and pans seared in his ears, and he siezed, wings buckling  - and be began falling, in an impossible, downward spiral, the warmth of the sunlight gone...

Xaver jerked awake with a muffled hiss, sitting upright amid the mess of the bedcovers, blinking away the sleep that hazed his sight, and the ever-rattling sense that he was falling. At Ginny's cursing, he blinked, his mind spinning and thoughts reeling.

Was the night before even real?

He glanced at his hands, and the silvery stain over his fingertips hardened his jaw. He threw his legs over the side of the bed, and padded, quietly, to the bathroom, pausing to look at her, before he reached around her and plucked a handtowel from the rack, leaning back against the doorframe with an ease of laziness, his gaze flickering over the mess on the floor, before returning to her, in no mind to pick up. Not yet. He rubbed the towel over his fingers, staining the colored cloth with the silver excess.


"Good morning."

Ginny said nothing, just reached over and turned on the hot water to the sink. She bent over it, cupping her hands below the steaming water and splashing her face. The water was scalding hot, but she didn't notice. Her skin turned pink where the water touched it, and then even brighter from her rubbing the skin.

She snatched up another hand towel, drying her face with it roughly. She turned to water off and kicked a few of the things on the floor for good measure before she turned to walk from the bathroom.
To escape him.

Problem was, he was kinda in her way.
"Morning." She muttered,lowly, avoiding his face. "`Scuse me."

Xaver watched her with a sort of mild facination.
Neither stopping her, or moving at all as she washed her face with overly-hot water, or shuffled about in an angry, restless manner.

She came toward him, moving, as if to go around him, and the towel dropped, his hand bracing the other side of the doorframe before the slice of fabric had even fallen an inch, let alone touched the ground.
He was sleepy, sure. But Xaver was a hard catch to be caught unawares.

"No," he said, very simply.
Gently.
The word rolling off his tongue almost easily, despite the discomfort of disuse.

"What is it?"

Straight to the point.
As was Xaver.

She stopped, a mere inch or so away from him. She focused on the ground, her gaze determined not to meet his. She clenched her fists against her sides.

"Nothing. Let me through." Then, as an after thought, "Please."

She'd done something unforgivable last night. And although it seemed he'd forgiven her, for the most part, she couldn't let him. Because she couldn't forgive herself.
Stupid.
So stupid.

She winced as a stray thought entered her mind. She'd have to spend time that morning rebuilding her mental barriers.

"Ginny."

He refused to bite down the determination to push through the barrier she was so forcefully trying to lodge between them.
Xaver shook his head, his arm dropping from the doorway, and fingers gently curling beneath her chin. Lifting upwards, and willing her to look at him.

Memories of the night before, prodded at him.
Like unholy, sinister creatures of the underworld, threatening to puncture the first unguarded vein..

"Don't." Ginny snapped, taking a step back and pulling away.

"Don't." She shook her head, but couldn't take her eyes away from his. She clenched her fists tighter, "Don't you dare forgive me. Don't you dare."

She finally tore her eyes away, looking to the side, "Why would you? I obviously don't deserve it. Dam.nit, Xaver." She reached up, tugging on her hair roughly, "Your stupid."

Stupid for staying.
stupid for loving her.
Her guilt was high.
Self-resentment was setting in.

She pulled away from him, and for a moment his hand remained suspended where she had been, before it dropped to his side. He literally flinched at her tone, then folded his arms, firmly, across his chest, wings a large and imposing presence behind him, twitching uncomfortably as she turned away from him. As she denied him.

"I believe it is in my power to do what I may, and will, and what I choose," he returned, rather sharply.

His head tipped to the side, very slightly, at her insult, blinking at it thoughtfully, whether she meant it or not.

"Stupid." She said again. Ginny scowled darkly, not saying anything for a moment.

She folded her arms, kicking a bottle across the room. It rolled, bouncing off the wall lightly. She glared at it.
"Please, Lord Xaver, let me past." She was trying to irk him. Trying to make him angry.

She didn't want his forgiveness. She didn't deserve it, as least as far as she was concerned.
She looked up, locking her eyes onto his, "Just move."

His lips instinctually quivered at her comment.
It didn't matter that she might have said it in truth and all honesty, but the passion behind her fit was endearing, to him, at least for the moment.

"Please, Lord Xaver, let me past."

Xaver's gaze flickered slightly.

"Snot," he retorted.


He shook his head slightly, though all movements simply ceased to be when she met his gaze.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to stand in the f.ucking bathroom all day!" Ginny snapped angrily. She frowned, scowling angrily.

"Just move." She snapped at him, her eyes beginning to tear up from frustration. His lack of anger was beginning to anger her.

(Yoohoo! Forget something???)

((No! We put you on hold, honey. ;D Hmmm, now to have you reenter at just the right time...))

(Thanks for informing me I had been put on hold. =D Alright well I'll keep up till I see my cue I guess. I've no idea how to get back in without your help.)

((lol =P))


Xaver's gaze darkened.
Wings stiffening behind him, he withdrew away from the door, stepping aside.

"As you wish," he said harshly.

He turned, finally, padding soundlessly to the dresser. He pulled open one of the middle drawers with a slightly jerky motion, then began shuffling through the contents, his gaze shuttered and thoughts guarded.

Ginny took a deep breath, following him out and into the room, though not as soundless as he. She walked past him, angrily fixing the covers on the bed, and then getting on her knees and pulling a runaway pillow out from beneath it. She said not a word as she did so.
After the bed was made, a full two minutes later, she walked to her own dresser, opening and closing the drawers as she pulled out clothes for the day. She didn't have work that day, and so her clothes were simple. Loose sweatpants (her own this time, not Xaver's) and a t-shirt of the same dark shade.
Another minute passed as she changed into her clothes, still silent, and still starring moodily at the ground throughout all her actions.
Then she made her way to the door, "Are you hungry?"

Xaver didn't look up when she entered the room, moments behind him. Instead, he quietly slipped into a pair of dark, faded jeans, trailing the fingertips of one hand over the long, c-shaped pink scar branded over his middle from long ago as he rifled through his shirt drawer. Vanishing his wings quickly, he pulled a navy shirt on as she turned toward him, though he didn't look toward her, nudging the drawer closed with his hip.
He ran a hand over his head, digging his fingers through the short buzz of what was left of his thick obsidian hair, and grimaced, before his features smoothed to that same empty, statuesque front. A marble mask that covered the true essence of the man within the shell of his creature.

"No."

There was a harsh, foreign lilt to his tones, but little else.

Xaver glanced at her, once, but refused to meet her gaze, instead directing his dark oceans past her, as he easily maneuvered around her and stalked down the hallway.

Ginny shrugged, following him down the hallway. She went directly into the kitchen, beginning coffee for herself. His reactions didn't bother her. They made her feel better, actually.
She'd done something very very bad the night before.
She deserved much worse.

As she stood in front of the coffee maker, Ginny tugged on her hair, thinking she was very glad that Cody was at her parents. She didn't want him to see or feel the things going on at the moment.
Besides, she had a large headache.
She yanked on her hair again, wincing. A bad habit for deep thoughts, pulling on your hair. Kinda hurts.

Still watching the coffee drip into the pot, she sighed. What was she going to do? She didn't want Xaver to forgive her, she didn't deserve that at all. But then, she didn't want him to hate her either. She crossed her arms, staring moodily at the coffee maker.

"What is it so terrible I've done, to piss you off this morning?"

Xaver's tones were a lofty, dark upset compared to his usual calm, and patient demeanor.
He leaned, heavily, against the doorframe of the kitchen, gaze shuttered, but the blue oceans in a fury.

She closed her eyes against his voice, then turned. She scowled, "You did nothing, ok?"
It was all her.
Her fault.

She raked her hand through her hair, turning back to the coffee impatiently. After a moment, she sighed and turned again to Xaver.
"You still love me." Her voice had lost it's angry tone, and was soft. She stared at him, her eyes narrowed, "Why?"

"It isn't a matter of choice. It is, as is, and I do, because I couldn't not. I could never not."

Xaver's gaze was sharp, before he looked away, blue eyes moody, dangerous oceans.
He seemed to gather himself, before his gaze returned her way.

"I can't say if I know the same from you, anymore."
He didn't say it harshly, though his next words came out severely self-critical.
"Though, I've been gone so much, you've definately had time to reconsider, have you not?"

"More than your fair share." She growled and turned away from him, her impatience raising higher. She slapped the side of the machine and turned away from it, going to the breadbox and rifling through it so she could make toast. Each movement was amplified, showing her anger and annoyance at the moment.

"You've been gone so much, it's a wonder I even know what you look like."

"Apparently more and more like that wolf. Tell me, did he keep you busy while I was away?"
His dark orbs shadowed.
"Slowly taking my place, and the lips I'd thought were reserved for me, alone?"

Xaver stood motionless in the doorway, his jaw set furiously.

Ginny dropped the bread and turned towards him, her own eyes fiery.
"You know, I kinda needed a friend to talk to. Besides work, when else do I leave the house, Xaver? Never! I stay here and be a good mommy. When you leave, I lose the only adult besides my parents and brothers to whom I can speak about things!"

She slammed her fist onto the counter in anger, "He's the only person I could talk to that would listen to me!"

"A friend."
He scoffed the word.
"Is that what you call him?"

Xaver shook his head.

"Love, I'd have no qualms if you went out. To talk. For him to listen. But the kissing, and his filthy hands on you, that bothers me. He's been f.ucking out for you from as far back as I can remember! Threatening to try and get rid of me and our son because he believes you deserve someone better. Someone HUMAN. And he wants that someone to be himself."

Ginny rolled her eyes, "I'm so sorry that someone besides you is attracted to me." She paused, "I know that's hard to believe and everything."

She stomped her foot, "I'm sorry you have such an inferiority complex to him! Did I ever say I'd rather have him? Or anybody else for that matter?! Never ever did that thought even cross my mind!" She was half yelling now, "But no, you seem to get it into your head that I agree with his point of view!"

She was facing him fully, her small hands clenched tightly into fists. "At least someone wants to put their hands on me! You come home and sleep all the dam.n time, giving me a kiss now and then to stave me off until the next one. Godda.mnit Xaver, I was f.ucking lonely!"

"I know other men are attracted to you. I'm not ignorant. Your responding to their advances is something new, entirely, however."
He forced a straight face at her tone.

"I have no inferiority complex. But I sure as hell am not used to worrying about.. him.. and.. you.."
He broke off, low tones chipped, and his gaze fell, as well, to the counter at his side.

Xaver breathed in, and absorbed the room, about him. Hearing her pounding heart, along with his own, seeing, without having to look, her hands clench into fists.
When she finished, there was a halfish, false grin tilting his mouth.

"I think it's ironic."
He faced her, but refused to meet her gaze.
"You kissed him because you were lonely, and I was on my way to find you, to tell you I'd be home far more."

Ginny winced as he spoke the last sentence.
"How was I to know?" She said, seething, "I may be psychic, Xaver, but that doesn't mean I am directly connected to your head. You hate letting down your guard, remember? I can't get in your head!"

She growled, "Maybe if you were so uncomfortable with me hanging out with Sirius, you should have said something! You knew I was going to see him, you could have said something! You could have asked to come with me! But you were so busy thinking about your kingdom that you hardly even heard what I said yesterday morning!"

Ginny raised both hands, in agitation, looking as though she wanted to press her head between them, and then letting them drop. All the while glaring at him, her eyes afire with her anger and self resentment.

Xaver clenched his teeth.
"You know d.am.n well it's not a simple thing for me to just let down my guard. And I didn't CHOOSE to have to deal with a life entirely beside the one I want. I didn't have a choice. It was either me, or Xences, and it would have been more wrong for me to let the realm fall to that sadistic demon."
He bit down hard on his lip before continuing.
"And you KNEW how I felt about that furry b.it.ch since that day in the ministry. I didn't like you hanging around him, but you know I wouldn't stop you."

He shook his head, roughly.
"I can't change who I am. I'll never be easy to live with, and I'll never understand your world like you want me to. I have a lot of rough edges, and I know it. I can work on that."
Xaver paused, wounded, though he fought desperately to hide it away.
"But I can never meet what you want.. I cannot be with you, if there is ever someone else. If there could be, someone else."

He couldn't stand it.

Had it been anyone else Ginny were arguing with, she would have stopped at this point. She would have given up, realizing the fight was pointless and worthless. But the thing was, to her it wasn't pointless or worthless because this was Xaver.
Not anyone else.
He had this way of being the best thing in the world to have ever happened to her. But also being the only one to truly anger her for the last three years, besides that Umbridge women. And that had been because the old b.it.ch had taken Cody.
This was different.

As he said that he couldn't be with her if there could be someone else, she took the few steps to close the space between them. She reached one hand up and pushed his shoulder. Not hard, but surly enough to catch his attention even sharper.
"I never said there was somebody else." She said, her tones angry. She didn't have to yell at this closeness, and so her voice was quieter than a few moments ago. Though by no means a whisper. "But you have to understand that there is always the danger of someone being attracted to someone else other than who they are with. It's where the initiative to try and keep the one you love in love with you comes from! It's why some men go home and give their wives flowers. It's why some women go through the trouble of setting up a nice dinner for their husbands! It's why people TRY!"

She put her hands on her hips, shaking her head, her hair tumbling about, "I worry about you finding someone else all the time. I worry that someday I won't be pretty enough, or smart enough, or whatever the reason you love me enough, and then you will move on and find someone who is!"

She looked up at him, biting her own lip, "I hate being left behind, Xaver!"
The same words she had uttered before she'd kissed Sirius, though she didn't recall that at the moment.

The atomosphere about them literally churned, when Ginny planted her hand against his shoulder, and shoved him.
The air chilling slightly, as his own heartbeat began to race.

She didn't have to say it, he almost said.
Kissing another man, twice, was more than enough, for him.


"I want to keep you," he said fiercely. "I would never have proposed to you otherwise."
His words were short, but his eyes softened considerably, as he mulled over her words. Contemplating.

Understanding.


"I hate being left behind, Xaver!"

Xaver shook his head, and stepped foreword, eliminating the distance between them. His eyes found hers, meeting her pained fury, his dark, moody orbs in a mix of hurt and understanding and remaining anger. He brought his hands up, and gently cupped her face, thumbs brushing her cheeks.

"I don't ever want you with someone but me. It's selfish, I know.."
The ice of his gaze more or less faded away.
"But I don't care. I want you. I want to be with you. I know some things need to change, but.."
He looked up, and sighed.

((I want them to kiss and make up. This is making me sad. Good thing Sirius is getting on and posting tomorrow, or I'd be tempted to do just that.))

"But what, Xav?" At his touch, goosebumps flitted cross Ginny's skin and she shivered. But she didn't move, and kept her angry eyes on him.

She kept her voice low, a hardly controlled calm creeping into her words.
"But, we don't know what happened those three years you were gone? But, we don't know the next time your brother will decide to have some fun? But, we don't know what's happening with your sister? But we don't know what will happen with your kingdom? But what, Xaver? When are you going to always put Cody and I first? When are you gonna be there, no matter what buts there are?"

She crossed her arms, still not moving out of his grasp. She scowled deeply, "You weren't there for a lot of things. You weren't there when I found out I was pregnant with your baby. You weren't there when I gave birth to our son. You weren't there for three years, Xaver. A lot happened in those three years, and you. Were. Not. There. You left me behind!"

Xaver released her.

Didn't push her, for he would never, or pull away violently - but he dropped his hands in a heated, jerky manner, and stepped back. Withdrew, in every sense of the word, his jaw clenching and eyes chilling to a cool, wrathful ice.

"I had no fu.cking choice in the matter."
His tones were low, chipped, and harsh.
'Unlike what you did.' - hovered in the air, though he didn't say it. Didn't care to say it.

Xaver turned on his heel and moved toward the back sliding door.

Ginny scowled, following him.
"Running away, baby? Just like you did that last time we had a fight?"

She stopped in the doorway to the kitchen, her hands clenched so tightly that her fingers were white. She worked hard, taking the scowl off her face, removing the frown. Learning from him to turn off her emotions. Though only on her face.

"How long are you gonna be gone this time, Xaver? Three years? Six? Ten?"
Instantly, she wished she could take back the words. But she didn't show it. She just folded her arms, leaning against the door frame. Watching him.

The shell broke, and Xaver visibly winced, memories flowing, though he didn't care.
...Tried to act like he didn't care.

But he did.
He cared far too much.


"And to be truthful, every time one of you leaves with no warning, all I can think is how selfish you can be! And I know I shouldn't. You are leaving for some reason or another. For a country, for family, for friends. For love. God only knows why, but I can't get it out of my head than I'm stuck here for good to teach our future runners and watch my friends put themselves in danger for almost no reason. ..What do I want? I have no idea. No idea at all."

She began bawling..
And it was nearly Xaver's undoing.
His eyes flickered upward to her, and slowly, he took her hands within his own, and gently pulled them away from her face, finding her eyes.
-I can't tell you I won't leave again. This last time, I had no intention of doing so.. But, Ginny.. It seems that every time I am away, it just gets stronger. I am reminded, more fiercely, of just how much I hate it.. I have come to realize, that being away from you is just illogistical. I.. can't do it..-

The anger, was completely introverted, now.

When she looked at him ..he almost let his mouth just run without thought.
He'd almost said, what he'd been thinking for ages. Why didn't she just be with him? Maybe they could both compromise, and, she could go with him? Be with him? ..Or he could figure out a way to stay there?..
Xaver reeled with the thought.
Almost letting his tongue continue on, unchecked..

...He had almost proposed to her.
It was oddly uplifting, and terrifying at the same time.


Xaver met her eyes ..and felt an odd, painful jolt when she scowled.
"Sorry. ...I shouldn't have said that. Any of it."
She looked away from him, and his face fell.
She shouldn't have said that to him?
..He didn't understand.
Though, Xaver blamed himself, for that. It was his fault he'd been away, in the end. If he wasn't who he was ..a whole lot of things would be better.

Slowly, he rose.
Against everything he knew, and wanted, and truly needed, he stepped away from her, though his footfalls made no sound.
"Alright. ..When you don't regret talking to me, then.. You'll know where I'll be."
Even if he didn't, at the moment.
He padded to the door, and slipped out, allowing it to shut, quietly, behind him, before he started walking..

Xaver kept walking.

"Nothing and no one could ever keep me from coming back to you, except your own will, Ginny. I-..."
"You what?"

Ginny had looked at him then – and, if he could have promised her the world – his world – even back then he would have sworn it over to her without a seconds hesitation.
Then, slowly, softly, he'd finally told her what had been on his mind, since the first time he'd seen her shock of red hair, and pretty face that first day in the forest.

"..I love you... Did you know that?"

Ginny had smiled at him, then.

"Xaver, I know...a lot of things. But I didn't know that...One of the things I DO know, is that I love you."

"I've never said it before," he'd admitted.
He had swooped down then, and stolen her vibrant lips for an electrical, heated kiss – and the world was suddenly right... Spinning on the right axis...

The thoughts blurred.

Cody came into view, and nodded slowly.
"Yup. He was nice. I think."
He smiled at Xaver, boyish cheeks full of innocent warmth.
"But Momma doesn't know what happened to him. She thinks he's gone forever."
Ginny shivered again, tearing her eyes away from Xaver long enough to nod at Sarah. She kept her hand on Cody's head, almost as if holding him back. From what she wasn't sure, but she was terrified.



Xaver had stopped at the couch. He leaned against it now, heavily, his gaze out the glass doors, though his thoughts were very well centered on the woman behind him.

"I had left, on my own accord, under the impression that I would hopefully be back near immediately. For good. I stayed away and for grounds I'm still not certain... But if the longing that wretches at me every moment I am not at your side accounts for anything, even little - I did not stay away on my own compliance."

-The old words hung in the air, though he felt them burn within him, anew.


Her words burned. Gnawing an unhealed wound at the center of his heart.
A wound that was entirely self-inflicted, and refused to ever fade..

Pop.

"Dam it,"

Thud.

Ouch!" Muffled words came from a heap of a clock on the newly wetted grass from the cold night before. Sirius lay below the mess, his cloak tightly controlled around his sore body in ways he didn't imagine was possible. He was week, that was noticeable as he worked his way through the knots around his body like a snake. Apparating was never a strong suit when it came to Sirius and it didn't help when he was in pain. He had to do it though, finding no other source of transportation to get him outside of the place he needed to be.

Where was he? Sirius on the front lawn of Xaver and Ginny's house.

After getting out of the cloak with some difficulty Sirius stood, trying to redeem the little self esteem he still possessed. He put his cloak back on, ran a grass stained hand through his hair, fixed his dark blue polo, and wiped off grass from his khaki pants. He sighed, trying not to move his jaw to much as it still was very sore from the incidents that happened yesterday between Xaver and himself.

Why was Sirius here? He didn't know. What he did know was that, through his somehow one black eye Sirius hated Xaver. Truly and utterly despised him at this point. Xaver's actions should not have been dealt with so brutally and it angered Sirius to think that Xaver did what he did to Sirius.

That was one of the many emotions that flowed through his mind.

Another was fear. He feared Xaver, he didn't know why he had shown up at there doorstep though. Did he plan on apologizing? He had not a clue. Did he plan on calling Xaver out? Sirius still couldn't figure out why he was here on there doorstep or why he was having troubles pin pointing his emotions. All he knew was as he walked up to the front door was that he had to knock.

And knock, he did.

Ginny glared at Xaver as he leaned against the couch, but said nothing. She felt the direction his thoughts were taking, felt his emotions change. But she was still angry, too angry at the moment to apologize for anything said.
And because he remained silent, so did she.

Then there was a knock at the door, and Ginny frowned even deeper. Annoyance flashed across her face, and she looked towards the front door. Then at Xaver, then back again. She pushed off the kitchen doorframe and walked across the room, a mere five or ten feet away from Xaver.

She glanced back at him before opening the door.
Upon seeing Sirius, she froze in place.

One thing went through her mind now, 'Oh Sh.it!'

Ginny didn't know how she felt about Sirius. She knew he had led her on, knew he had anticipated her drinking. But she also knew he hadn't planned on her kissing him. She couldn't blame him anymore than she could blame Xaver for that.
Try as she might.

"Um...hi..." She said, her voice coming out even. Inside, however she wanted to slam Sirius's face against the wall and let him know that he had just made a stupid move.

(At this point "stupid moves" are Sirius's strong point.)

Sirius froze for a moment, his mind becoming a jumbled heap. Words and actions flew numbingly through his head. Ideas of how to escape, how to run away and pretend like he hadn't just apparated here and he hadn't just knocked on there door and that he wasn't now standing before Ginny.

Ginny... How beautiful her hair looked even though she was noticeably irritated or angry at something. Or someone Sirius hoped.

Being his selfish self through his confused mind came one clear memory, the memory from yesterday. He instinctively looked towards her lips, remembering there touch. As he was imagining a sharp shock was sent up his spine, bringing him back to reality of things. He nodded politely, and spoke her name, "Ginny." One word, one name and how it flowed so smoothly from Sirius's tongue was a relaxing reminder that Ginny was still Ginny. Standing before her Sirius forgot that behind the door that Ginny held was one beast that Sirius did not want to see. Standing there before her though, Sirius forgot about him. Xaver's name didn't even cross his mind let alone his lips.

Ginny stared at Sirius as he stared at her. Though, the feelings each felt were on opposite ends of the spectrum. She blinked, then scowled at him.

"What do you want?" She asked. Hadn't he caused enough damage in her life right now. She held onto the doorknob, almost ready to slam the door in his face.

Which would probably be the best thing to do, now that she thought about it.

When Xaver saw who was at the door, he was going to have a f.uc.king field day with Sirius's already black and blue face. Ginny's stomach jumped suddenly. Xaver.
He was going to think she had invited Sirius.
This was just a sucky day.

"Go away."  She snapped at Sirius.

Sirius's faced contorted so it looked like he had just eaten something extremely sour. Her words were cold and he didn't quite understand why. After all, hadn't she kissed him?

"Ginny please, why are you being so cruel? Can't you and I just... I don't know... Talk this through?" Sirius looked into her eyes, his own an almost clear color. Sirius's mind had not yet come to think of what was behind the door so he continued thinking of one thing and one thing only. Ginny standing before him.

Xaver was far from his mind and he subconsciously tried to keep it that way.

Xaver heard the knock.
But he didn't bother.

Biting his tongue as Ginny's footfalls trailed to the doorway, Xaver closed his eyes, bringing up his mental blocks and shields, and shutting out the world. Breathing in deeply, and exhaling slowly, focusing his power and reinforcing the calm, in-control attitude that effectively kept him sane with everything in his world. Focusing, until his very own heartbeat was the only thing he could hear. The even, mellow rythm pulsing his nerves back into a sort of comfort zone.

"Ginny please.."

Xaver's eyes flew open, and he whirled on his heel, his entire state of calm and focus flying out the window.
Within a breath, Xaver was standing a foot or three behind Ginny, staring at the hardwood door, and seeing right through it. Molten, untapped, infuriated rage burned anew in waves throughout him, spreading like venom. His strong hands clenched into fists, the wide breadth of his shoulders stiff and squared, and his jaw clenched in a way that set off the handsome planes and angles of his face dangerously, Xaver was completely still. The dark, moody depths of his blue eyes churned with a pent-up wrath, shuttered of any emotion but confusion, and anger.

"Can't you and I just... I don't know... Talk this through?"

The oceans of his orbs darkened.

"Talk..."
The word was spoken in a hiss. A breathy, dark murmur of his low tones, chopped with the foreign lilt of his own language.
He pulled a mocking, detesting sneer.

Ginny closed her eyes as Xaver spoke, her face set into an annoyed angry frown. She stiffened, took a deep breath, and let her body relax. She didn't turn to face Xaver, and kept her eyes on Sirius's face.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Sirius." She spoke stiffly, knowing Xaver was right behind her.

Wait, why was she trying to keep them apart? At the moment, she was angry at both males, angry enough to hurt them with words. Why not let them do the hurting themseleves.
As soon as the though went through her mind, she cut it down.
There were many reasons she would not do that.
She cared about both men, for one.
She fought her own battles, for two.
And she was the one who'd caused this huge mess.

The realization that this was her fault made her angry flush disappear. Her skin paled, and she let go of the doorknob. But she couldn't move. She was trapped between the two men, figuratively and literally.
Her fault that Xaver was upset.
her fault that Sirius was hurt.
Her fault that things were messed up right now.

She paled even more, but said nothing. Her thoughts were open, she still hadn't fixed her barriers. She suddenly felt sick.
Her fault.

Sirius saw Xaver behind Ginny and all thoughts ran from his head except, ironically enough, the idea of running away before he really spoke out of turn or did something wrong once more. The breath he exhaled and inhaled suddenly stopped coming and he stood like a stone statue before a pain in his chest made him snap back to life and breathe. His face was very pale and he did not move his gaze from Xaver's haunting face though logic told him not to, survival skills told him to not let his predator leave his site. Sirius rather wasn't in the mood to become mashed potatoes.

"I am not speaking to you Xaver nor will I speak in front of you. I am here for one purpose only, Ginny." The words came arrogantly from his mouth though his insides made him want to shrink into nothingness. His emotions still made no sense to him and he soon gave up on them and simply let them switch like a second hand on a clock.

"I'm a purpose, am I?" Ginny said, turning so that she could see both of them simply by the turn of her head. Her face was still pale, her eyes still wide with her realization moments before. But now she attempted to have a vacant look upon her face.
It didn't work well.

Ginny was an extremely intelligent person, so looking stupid took more work for her than it did for most people.
She sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"Ginny you know I didn't mean it that way. Hel/ I'm not exactly sure what you mean by it..." He sighed and did as she did, running his hand through his hair before it fell limply back into place almost exactly as it had before. He looked from Xaver to Ginny without many thoughts going through his head. "Can we not talk alone Ginny?" He peered at Xaver for a moment, shuddering before turning his eyes to Ginny...

"Come on, just a little chat."

She didn't know either.
But being a purpose just didn't seem attractive to her.

He asked to speak to her alone, and she gave him a strange look. Her features twisted into pure confusion, she was so lost. Why would he want to talk to her alone? What difference would it make?
The damage was done.
It was her fault.

She could feel Xaver, could feel his presence. Her heart skipped a beat as she suddenly realized how close she was to losing him forever. If he left now, if he stormed away in anger, would he ever come back?
Or would he truly be gone, for good?

What would Cody say?

Thoughts of her child, her angel flashed through her mind and Ginny's eyes became light with sudden upset. Cody, he was a baby yet. He needed his dad, much as she did. Cody had asked her once if she and Xaver had loved each other, and she had told him yes. Without a doubt.
This was the second test, it seemed.

The first had been Xaver's disappearance.

Ginny blinked a few times, shaking her head in answer. When she spoke, her voice came out softer, much less angry then it had been moments before.
"I...don't think...that's a good idea, Sirius." She said, meekly, looking down and closing her eyes.

Why was this all so hard?
Because Sirius was her friend. Had been there for her when Xaver wasn't.
Yes, Xaver was her first choice. No competition.
But Sirius was her second.
He was her friend, one of the few she still had.

The only friend who hadn't left her in the end.

Sirius didn't understand at all why Ginny wouldn't just speak with him. He personally had no idea what he wanted to say, he just knew he couldn't have clear thoughts with Xaver lingering behind Ginny.

"Dam.n it Ginny why the hell not? So what, now that you have Xaver you won't even talk to your own friends?" Sirius was kinda sorta maybe a little bit hurt but he tried not to show it. (Hahaa I love that). Ginny was seriously one out of three friends he had left. People always said that you can count your true friends on one hand. Unless Sirius was some tree handed freak he was pretty sure he was short up a few friends. Sarah, Cho, and Ginny. At this point though, Cho wasn't the same he realized... Wasn't his true friend anymore. And Sarah... Oh Sarah. She was probably off somewhere wondering where Sirius was and slowly forgetting him. Now all he had was one person. One person that had always helped in times that he needed her most. Now he didn't even seem to have her.

Sirius was slowly becoming alone in the world and it was all his fault. Once again, all his fault.

Frankly, Xaver didn't care.
Not about anything Sirius wanted - and surely, not about the man, himself. It was all Sirius's fault.. Except for the fact that Ginny.. Kissed him..

Xaver's stomach rolled, and his features pulled, a confusing expression brushing his face.

It was all some kind of sick, twisted triangle.
And it was killing him... For everything he had relied on.. Everything that had kept him alive.. Everything that he'd been so sure of.. He wasn't so certain of. Not anymore.
It scared him.

Xaver rocked back on his heels, and folded his arms. Not leaving - but instead becoming immobile.
Unreadable.

"It's not a good idea." Ginny insisted, shaking her head.

She didn't look up, wrapping her arms around herself tightly.
Hugging herself because she didn't want either man to do it for her.
Or they didn't want to.

She bit her lip, looking up, "Actually.."
She thought, "Maybe we should talk."

She took a deep, shaky breath.
"All three of us."

Sirius lunged his head forward slightly coughing, as if he had just heard a funny joke and had to spit out water. He kept his mouth open, straightening up and turning his head slightly, pointing with his index finger and pinky he managed to stutter, "Wait, you?" He pointed to Ginny, "and him?" He pointed to Xaver not daring a glance at him. "Talking, to me?" He shook his head not to say no, but as if he were trying to get water from his hair. Making sure it wasn't a dream, he opened his left eye and growled.

"There is absolutely no way I am going to be in the same room with you and him together. That's just, physically impossible. That would be like me taking a piece of parchment and saying, 'I'd like to die now, and how will I do that? Why, let's go just have a talk with Xaver Xian! That should be a perfect way to die. So here we go, and let's have Ginny there to, so she can have enjoyment.' Honestly, that makes perfect sense." Sirius shook his head slower this time, closing his eyes before speaking again, quieter and calmer then before, realizing he had lost his temper.

"I'm sorry, I just cannot lose another friend. And if I lose you, I won't have anything else to live for." He sighed, realizing with his eyes still closed that he meant his words more then anything he'd ever said in his life. He opened his eyes, and looked at Xaver for one of the first times while standing there.

"I'll behave if you do." 

Xaver clenched his jaw until his teeth hurt.

"Behave?"
The word was short, but full of more malice and anger than many a speeches could come across.
His tones low, and nearly a hiss, his voice came through lips biting back far more than a distasteful argument.

Through the slit of the doorway which through, Xaver could see perhaps half of Sirius's face, though when the other male raised his head, Xaver looked away in disgust.

"All three of us," he muttered darkly, turning on his heel, and starting back toward the living room.. "F_cking lovely. Let's just discuss-.."
His words dropped off into annoyed, choppy lines, as he disappeared into the kitchen.
"Stupid.. can't even.."

His backing away, however, was probably the best thing for everyone, at that point.
"Moldy.. piece of.. da_ned..."

Particularly, Sirius's health.

"I guess that's as good as an ok as we'll get from him." Ginny muttered, her own anger flashing back a bit with Xaver's childish reaction. She turned, following the Fallen into the kitchen. She shook her head, leaving the door open for Sirius.

Once in the kitchen, she went to the counter, pulling herself up and sitting on it. Facing both guys.
"There's a really big problem here." She said, stating the obvious.

Sirius followed Ginny into the house, carefully closing the door behind him. He walked in, following Ginny into the kitcthen. "How do you suppose we fix it?" Sirius was trying to behave himself, but he found the whole thing ridiculous having Xaver there with them.

"Of course there's a problem."
Xaver was in the far corner of the kitchen, leaning back against the counter, ankles and arms crossed, his jaw set and blue eyes in a molten fury.

"And you can't fix it, you impossible fool."
Xaver didn't even look at Ginny, his scathing gaze resting solely on Sirius.

Sirius tore his eyes from Ginny and smirked, looking at Xaver. "Believe me, I can think of multiple ways to fix this problem. All of them resulting in your untimely death or banishment though, so I suppose those won't work. What do you think Xaver?" Sirius was being an arrogant git, but at this point anger overpowered his sense of judgment thus sending him into a smart a$$ frenzy.

"I think you've made your choice and have made up your mind. You're a greedy, smug little bastard - and you only came here to persue my fiancee further."
Xaver shook his head, darkly.

"You made it clear what you thought of me, and my kind, which includes Codium, and you're furious I won't step aside.."

"Right, let me make one thing clear with you Xaver, never have I disliked your kind. I promise you that, and you may not believe it, but I will not be judged by what I am not. And I am not a hater of you and Cody, you don't have to believe me, but that is the truth." He meant his words, he was offended that Xaver still thought he hated Xaver because of what he was, rather then because who he was with. He was quieter now as he continued on, "I was angry when I said those words, I did not mean them. And as for Ginny, at this point I only want to be her friend."

He paused, shaking his head and forgetting Ginny was even there, "She won't even let me be that so I guess you got what you want."

He shook his head, still offended and hurt that Xaver thought he was discrimanatory against his kind when he was far from it. "Who was it that stood up for you that day at the ministry? I didn't just do it because of Ginny's happiness..."

"...No one should be treated that way."

"That's enough." Ginny said, her voice sharp. She clasped her hands in her lap, visibly upset.

She scowled darkly, thinking that she had been wrong.
This wasn't her fault.
It was theirs.
Neither guy could get his sh!t together.

"Christ, you two bickering solves nothing!" She told them. She looked at Sirius, "If all you wanted was to be friends, why didn't you stop me? Why didn't you push me away? Why did you flirt with me when I was drunk?" She asked, her tones emotional.

"And if you felt so threatened by him, why didn't you ask me to stay home last night? Why didn't you ask to go with me? Why didn't you make more of an effort to be home more often?" She turned her eyes on Xaver.

She paused, "And why can't I do even this right?!"
She slipped off the counter, standing and facing both men. Her hands on her hips, her eyes dark and tear filled. She shook her head, her bright red hair reflecting in the light.
"Listen to me. Both of you." She stressed, "You are both great guys. And I care about both of you. But if this game of tug of war doesn't stop soon, I'm going to be torn in two!"

"You will be judged by me through whatever means I chose to do so," Xaver returned harshly.
His jaw a solid, fierce line, he remained silent, until Ginny turned on the both of them.


"Torn in two?"

It didn't matter the way she'd meant it. Xaver hashed her words completely wrong.

"You aren't marrying him! You aren't in love with him...?!"
His words dropped off sharply, and his blue eyes fixed to her, focusing over her with the full weight of all his questions..

Ginny turned her eyes onto him, "Did I say that?" She snapped angrily.

"No, I didn't." She answered for him. "I can't be in love with him Xaver. I love him, but I'm not IN love with him..Not while I'm in love with you. Not that it matters, because the way things are going, it looks like you won't want to marry me anyway!"

"It's not like you ever pushed for us to actually do it. You talk about it a whole bunch. But we all know you don't really want to!"

Ginny had many insecurities. She thought herself stupid, ugly, cold hearted and much worse. She truly hated herself, and this hate had suddenly grown ten times it's normal amount.
She seemed to hate herself just as much as Xaver and Sirius hated each other.
Now her self hate had evolved, turning into a monster that was tearing everything apart.

"I don't even know why this is happening!" Her voice suddenly rose, she was almost screaming. "There's no way either of you love me enough to hate each other! It's not possible. I'm not the kind of persobn that you love! Why do wither of you even like me? It doesn't make sense!"
She choked on her own words, the tears over flowing. She was so angry, and upset, and confused.
Just as confused as each of them.

"Well apparently nobody told me - because I know with complete assurance, that even from years before I finally asked you, I've wanted to be with you. To have a forever."
His words were sure, and swift, though it took her raising her voice, and the emotion that was now quickly spilling over, to evoke, finally, his own sense of self and reassurance.
And concern.
"Ginny," he said firmly, arms uncrossing as his gaze followed her.
"I know exactly the person you are, and it makes perfect sense. This is all happening, because I can't stand the thought of ever losing you. I'm selfish, and greedy, and I want you. I want us. I want your love and affections, and to wake up next to you every morning; to kiss you goodnight every evening. I want you - I need you. I'm only myself, when I'm with you."

He sighed.

"The truth is I do feel threatened, and I feel more replacable than ever - and I don't want to be compared on the same level as him! I want.. to mean more.."
Xaver faltered. Knowing, how selfish he sounded..

"You will always mean more in her heart and in her mind then me." Sirius kept his face on the ground, staring uninterested at his feet.

He didn't like what he was saying, but he knew it was true.
He didn't like how selfish he had been, but he was a selfish person.
He didn't like the situation that he was in, but it was there... Loud and clear.

"Xaver you have every right to be a selfish prick, which you are being right now, I'm sorry I never should have gone to that bar with Ginny, I never should have gotten her intentionally drunk, I never should have flirted with her." He looked at Xaver, truly looking into his eyes for the first time all night. He meant what  he said, he could have stopped there, but he just had to go on.

"But I did. I can't take it back, and I'm not going to lie to you. I did enjoy it."

Reason was telling him to listen.
Logic was telling him to understand.

Xaver didn't want to.

"You don't have to lie. It's the truth, that is, in the end, the truest of wrongs. You can't take it back."
He spat the last, arms folding once more, his lean musculature bunching and pulling as he moved.

((O gosh wowzers I guess now would be a bad joining time!!  :-\ )

"I want...to mean more.."

Xaver meant the world to her, couldn't he understand that?
But Ginny was only human. She made mistakes all the time.
This scared her, terrified her.
She hated making mistakes.

"Xaver, please." Ginny slid down to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest even as the tears still slid down her face.

"Please don't argue anymore." She shook her head. "It hurts to hear your voice like that."
She shuddered. Xaver sounded so cruel.
So heartless.
Not like the Xaver she knew.
The Xaver she loved.

She looked up at him. Then to Sirius. Then to the floor.
"I'[m sorry. Both of you. It's not your faults. Any of it."
He voice was soft, quiet, and full of self loathing.
"It's mine."

Sirius sighed, slowly walking over to a chair and sitting down. He placed his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Slowly he closed his eyes, breathing slowly. "I'm sorry Ginny..." He said quietly, keeping his eyes closed.

He opened them, peering down at her desperately wishing she would stop crying. "I never meant to hurt you..."

"...Ever."

((HINT))

("HINT" meaning??)

((Meaning Xav needs to reply!))

(Fair enough! Lolz)

(heh..  -waggles eyebrows-)


Ginny buckled into herself, and slid to the floor, tears running fresh tracks over the pretty lines of her face, and Xaver's heart ached for her. Ached to hold her, and kiss away her tears. Ached, in knowing her tears were of his own doing.

He shut up. Bringing his hands to his head, and raking them over the remnants of his black locks, the thick buzz that remained soft, but prickly beneath the pads of his fingers. The short cut of his hair easily enhanced the sharp, predatory lines and planes of his already solid and powerful creature. Bringing out the hard line of his jaw, and the dark, moody depths of his gaze. Depths that, even within those short moments, were churning with upset and a confusing turmoil.

"Don't you dare let blame of all of this, fall solely upon your shoulders."
His hands dropped, slowly, and he let out a pent up breath. His tones had softened, considerably, lowering to a still very reserved, but far more gentle low..

Sirius apologized, and Xaver stalled, the blues of his eyes in a mix of distaste and pain and confusion, ice chips that relayed far more emotion than he would have liked... Then, though he would have liked to have drowned out his emotions, and shoved them aside, he knelt down beside her, tipping his head to the side.

"Love.."

"It is my fault, Xaver." Ginny cried, setting her forehead on her knees so they wouldn't see her face, "It's my fault because I knew he had a stupid little crush on me and didn't stop it then. It's my fault because I'm so afraid of you leaving that I felt like I needed a best friend in case you did. It's my fault because I don't trust anybody!"

She squeezed her arms around her legs, as if she were trying to become as small as possible. A hard feat, she was already a small person. She didn't move other than that, didn't want to move. Her head was throbbing, she'd never put a block back up and so unwanted visions and thoughts were entering her mind.

Her head hurt, her heart hurt, and she was aware that the hot tears sliding down her face could very well run out. And wanting to cry, but having no tears, it a very upsetting way to cry. She knew that crying made one feel better.
So where were the good feelings?

She took a deep shuddering breath, having touble with it as she was still, strangely, crying.

Sirius could do nothing but stand. Stand and watch as Ginny broke down. This was the second time he had seen her cry, but that was nothing compared to this. He felt pain before because of her tears, but before he was there for her. Now it was different. Now he was practically the enemy. He could do nothing more then stand and watch, watch as Xaver took her soft skin near his.

Irony came to mind as he watched them with cold eyes. The first time she had been like this he had kissed her, this time the reason she cracked was partly because of the incident of him kissing her yet again. Maybe Sirius should lay off the kissing? Especially kissing Ginny that was for sure.

He felt rigid, his expression blank as he stared down at them, his eyes purple from flawless terror. His features seemed darker then usual, aside from the fact that his slick black hair and terrible lack of sleep cast a dark black shadow over his face. He suddenly threw his fist on the table, focussing his anger on that one hit.

Bang! Silence filled the air for a moment.

He sighed, staring at his fist before turning mutely to them both before him.

He said nothing, but stood and stared, stood and stared. Slowly he managed to put one foot in front of the other, blindly heading for the front door though tears stung his eyes. He somehow made it, wrenching it open before walking out into the sunshine. He didn't look back nor did he close the door. Everything seemed quiet, like the world had paused except for him. It was just him, a lost sole in the world at that moment in time.

The sunshine beat down heavy on his dark clothes as he made his way through the grass that needed a cutting. He reached the end of the Ginny and Xaver residence and closed his eyes, turning quickly.

Snap!

Silence yet again.

"It is n--"
Ginny cut him off, burying her face into her knees, and though her tones were slightly muffled, they still cut through to the same effect.

"...because I don't trust anybody!"

Xaver rocked back on his heels slightly, wounded. And it was in that moment, that with a loud crash Sirius's fist pounded the table. Xaver started, instinctually, though he was still reeling in thought, and, half rising, and half trying to remain as he was, he stumbled.
Toppling backwards and landing with an odd thud on his backside, as Sirius rounded the corner of the kitchen.

Xaver blinked.
Then sighed, deeply, and shifted, dropping onto his back and laying spread-eagle, across the floor. Staring up into the dome lights, a solemn, sad expression brushing the contours of his handsome features.

Ginny's breath caught as Sirius slammed his fist into the table and she looked up, holding her breath. Slowly, she let it out as he turned and left, and she looked over to Xaver just in time to see him fall backwards onto his back. Tears still coursed down her face, burning her in their heat. Her lungs felt tight, her head hurt, and she realized that today was just one of those days.
The kind where you don't want to get out of bed, and would be better off for simply covering up your head and ignoring the world.

She closed her eyes, concentrating on taking deep breaths.
"I'm sorry, Xaver." She said quietly, her voice raspy, "I never meant for any of this to happen."

Xaver's gaze remained, for a time, fixed on the lights above. His dark eyes staring, but unseeing, his thoughts not really settled on one set thing. At Ginny's words, he was quiet, remaining mute, even as moments after, he slowly pushed himself from the floor. Moving over to her, soundless, as he had a habit of so being. He was still for a moment beside her, leaning back into the cabnets, before he moved, gently bringing his arms around her, and cradling her small form. Lifting her as if she weighed nothing, and shifting, bringing her onto his lap, and into the circle of his arms.
Holding her close, and bowing his face into her hair.

He breathed in deeply, swallowing around the lump in his throat.

"I know, Love," he murmured, tones low, and husky, and heavy with that foreign lilt.

"I'm sorry--"
She meant to say more, but there was a noise as the window was tapped. She jumped, recognizing the owl immediately. Distangling herself from Xaver, she gave him a glance as she went to the window, her face tight from the stress of the still early morning, allowing the owl to sit on her arm as she took the parchment.

She opened the parchment, and her face grew pale. Her full lips became white, and her hand shook. Instantly, she turned, pulling a quill from nowhere, turning the parchment over and writing a reply on the back. She reattached it, and practically threw the owl from the window.

Ginny looked dover at Xaver, her eyes wide from a new fear, "Cody's in St. Mungo's." She said, her voice trembling. She swayed, her legs giving out and she fell to the floor. She looked down at it, trying to keep from fainting.
"He was admitted a few minutes ago."

For all of a few moments, Xaver was deathly still. His features dark and immobile as some wrathful, ancient statue. Silent, until the beating of his very live heart was a heavy and dominating sound in his ears.

"Why?"
The word came out low, and fierce, though the harshness was not directed for Ginny.

St. Mungos?
The hospital?
But... Why?..

Quicker than a blink, and moving so quickly his form literally blurred, he was standing.

Ginny shook her head, 'I..I don't know. Mum just sent me the note saying he was admitted to the pediatric ward." Her voice was shaking, her face was white. But she didn't cry, she simply looked terrified.

"She said we should bring his pajama's and some toys..." She looked up at him, but didn't stand. She didn't trust herself to.

Ginny shook her head, "Shouldn't he be healing himself?" She bit her lip, "He usually heals his cuts and bruises within moments..."

Xaver moved to her, his features still stony, though the blue, moody oceans of his eyes were aflame with worry and concern.

"I couldn't say.. I can't help him, or answer that, unless I know what's wrong with him, dearest."
His voice was a gentle, velvet low, as he knelt slightly, and offered her his hands.
Offered her support.

"Let's just go now. If he needs things, we can send someone back for them."

Ginny took his hands, but didn't stand immediately. She looked up at him, her eyes wide as she recalled the events of the morning. She stood, clenching his hand tightly, "Can you take us? I don't think I can..."
She did indeed look very pale.

Ginny bit her lip, her thoughts swinging back to her son. What was wrong with him? Why was he in the hospital? Why hadn't he healed himself?
What if because he was half human, his healing process was much slower than a full Fallen's? That could mean the difference between life and death in some cases.
What if he couldn't heal when wounds were bad?

Her worry showed on her face, in her eyes, in her shaking hands.
Her little boy was in the hospital.

When Ginny gripped his hands, Xaver gently tugged her up, and to him, holding her form easily, for to him, she was nearly weightless.
He nodded, to her question.

"Of course."

Xaver was far powerful enough to be the subject of much reliance - though Ginny rarely asked of him, for she was usually strong enough, herself..
He held her close, knowing the weakness that now coursed through her, and worked in making the transport as unobtrusive as possible.

They appeared, in a soft murmur of magic, at the front desk of St. Mungos.
Xaver remained still, his arm wrapped securely around Ginny's waist, even as his gaze bored over the counter.

"Cody Xian?"
Even as he fought for composure, there was no misplacing the concern in his attractive tones.

The nurse just looked at him, as though he was an alien. She looked rather bored with her job, but was suddenly;y interested in the handsome man before her.

Ginny didn't even notice as she quickly corrected Xaver, "Xerxes Xian." She told the nurse, who then nodded. Full names were used in hospitals.

"Fourth floor, second room." She said, waving her hand, still starring at Xaver.

Ginny tugged on Xaver's hand, pulling him toward the elevator hastily. She chewed on her lip as they walked through the large hall, her eyes staring ahead with worry. She squeezed Xaver's hand, tightly, afraid to let go.

((Could I join, don't worry, I'll make my posts substantial))

(instead of asking in posts, PM people. lol. PM Gin - it's her storyline on this one <3)

Xaver was more or less oblivious to the woman's stare.
As always, it seemed.
Apparently unbeknownst to the female population, the Fallen lord was a very monagomous creature. And, though the woman's stare was one for the books and completely blatant of intentions, even with his arm still looped affectionately about Ginny's waist, it went on unnoticed.

Ginny worded Cody's name more formally, and Xaver said nothing, knowing that she easily knew more about mortal policies than he ever would. It was how some things worked, for them.
The woman released the room number, and Xaver was quick in Ginny's wake, then matching her stride, lacing his fingers amoungst hers, and giving a reassuring squeeze.


Why was Cody in the hospital?
What would have hurt the boy?
Or made him sick?

So much that the youngster couldn't heal himself..?

((Waits for the PM  ;) ))

Ginny hurried to the fourth floor, her face etched with worry. She by passed nurses and doctors, seeing them as totally unimportant. Just outside the second room, she stopped, as though afraid to go in. She looked to Xaver, biting her lip still. At this rate, it was going to bleed soon.

The door opened, and Molly popped her head out, looking right at them. She stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

"Mum!" Ginny reached up, tugging on her hair, "What happened? Why is Cody in here? What's going on?"

Molly held up her hands, "Ginny, calm down. Please, just take a breath, ok?"

Ginny struggled between two main emotions. The one where she wanted to scream at her mother to give her answers, and the other where she knew that being calm was important. Finally, she took a strangled breath, "What's wrong with Cody?" She asked, tightly.

Xaver couldn't help the feeling of being rooted to the floor when Molly Weasley stepped outside the hospital room, his gaze beyond her, searching, even as she shut the door.
His handsome features remained passive, though his heart was drumming a bruise into the underside of his ribs.

Molly shifted, bringing up her hands as she tried to relax Ginny, and Xaver wrapped his arm, naturally, around the slender red head's waist, pulling Ginny close into an affectionate, strong squeeze, though his own insecurity was building.


Xaver hated hospitals.
It had much to do with being an empath, more than anything.
He could feel the atomosphere - littered with pain, and old age, and sorrow. It was enough to bring the unknowing to a state of discomfort. For Xaver - he knew that, even carefully sheilded, he wouldn't last long, in control, in the place.

Molly clasped her hands together, "Ginny, what was that energy thing you've been teaching him?" She asked, peering at her only daughter.

Ginny's body stiffened, "An energy blast," She said lowly, "He didn't...no, tell me he didn't try one on his own, Mum!" Immediately, she began to feel guilty. She'd taught Cody how to form pure energy into a visible ball, or blast.
He still wasn't very good at controlling it, and the slightest thing caused him to lose his concentration. When someone can't control that enormous amount of energy, it usually blows up on them. It can be fatal.
"Mum, tell me Cody is ok."

Molly shifted her feet, "Well..."

"Just say my baby is ok, Mum. Please." Ginny heard herself begging, and didn't care. She leaned against Xaver fully now, her eyes on her mother.

Molly nodded, "He's in better condition than he was at first--"

Ginny's body sagged with relief and she held up her hand, cutting off her mother's words.
"I just want to see him..." She said softly.

Molly nodded, "He was asleep when I came out here." She told them, turning and opening the door. Ginny let her hand slip from Xaver's, walking to the door determined to see her child. Once inside, she practically tiptoed to the bed, where Cody lay.

In his left hand was an IV, but that was simply saline. His eyes were closed, and he was sleeping peacefully, his head tilted to one side slightly. His mouth was part way open, and he made small noises now and then. Ginny looked down at his right arm, which was covered in burns from the energy blast. Her heart caught in her throat and she sat on the edge of the bed. She smoothed Cody's hair from his face, and he moved under her touch.
In his sleep, he murmured, "Momma, Daddy..."

"Shh, angel. Momma's hear, baby." Ginny said softly, still stroking his hair.

For a long moment, as Ginny released his hand, and slipped into the room, Xaver was still. Rocking back on his heels, and looking as uncertain as he felt. His gaze was solemn, following her trail, before flickering to Molly - unease coursing through his belly. Slowly, he followed in Ginny's wake, actually having to work at keeping quiet - his nerves making him clumbsy as he ever was.
Cody's voice stirred his heart to life, and Xaver moved to the foot of the boy's bed, a relieved, gentle smile touching the swell of his mouth, sweetly, though his gaze remained haunted. He looked around for a moment, taking in the linoleum flooring, and the waxy white paint spread unevenly over the walls, though a normal man might have missed it. Watching, curiously, the ticking machines - many of which Cody wasn't even connected to - his dark orbs both curious, and confused, his brow furrowing slightly.

Xaver didn't know the first thing about human machines.
Magically enhanced, or not.

Most of the things in the room, the Fallen had never even seen before.


He looked down at Cody, and his ocean blues once more softened, his handsome head tipping to the side slightly, even as he shook his head.
"You're even better at scaring your mother than I am, Bear."
The corners of his mouth lifted, though the lines about his eyes were still written over with worry..

Cody shifted, opening one eyes and awaking for the most part. He smiled slightly, "Hi Dad. Hi Mom." He looked at Ginny, his smile falling, "Someone yelled and I lost control Mom. I'm sorry." He told her, obviously upset that he hadn't been able to control his energy.

Ginny kept smoothing his hair, "Hush, Angel." She leaned down, kissing his forehead. "It's not your fault."
Her's. It was her's. Yet another thing to add to that list.

Cody looked to Xaver, a smile growing back as he was told he scared his mother more than his Dad did.
"I don't try to out do you, Dad. I'm just that good." he joked.

For a moment, laughter touched Xaver's gaze.
Trying to ignore the situation.
Trying to ignore the possible state of the boy's condition.
The boy could still have a sense of humor, despite the odds...
If only for a moment.
"Talent, I suppose."

His eyes moved over Ginny, knowing the self-critical line of her thoughts, even if he couldn't, or chose not to, read them.
Wishing she wouldn't.
Wishing she didn't, blame herself...
..Not knowing what to do, about it.

"I spent more time knowing her nightmares than you did." Cody said, smiling. He wasn't trying to throw it in his dad's face. He was stating the truth. He knew Ginny's fears better than anyone.

Ginny bit her lip, "Baby, maybe you should sleep." She looked down at his burnt arm, swallowing around a lump in her throat. Her baby was hurt, badly. Because she had taught him advanced magic. "I'm sorry, Angel." She told him.

Cody stopped in his laughter, narrowing his eyes as he was confused.
"What? Why are you sorry Mom?"

Ginny shook her head, kissing his forehead again, "Never mind it. Just go to sleep, ok?"

Cody sighed, slumping back against his pillows, "I've been sleeping since I got here, Mom. A good half hour."
He watched her suspiciously, suddenly noticing the all too recent tear tracks on her cheeks. Her red, swollen eyes. She'd been crying, and by the look of it for a while.

(Wow. Ignore me, I'm just gonna keep up with this thread because it is really good.)

((Well, I'm glad your still reading at least.  ;)))

Xaver became still at Cody's reply, and became silent. His mouth pressed into a thin line as Cody and Ginny spoke, his dark gaze flickering over the boy. Assessing the damage..
As if knowingly.
As if the sheets and bandages were no veil at all to what lay beneath..

He blinked as Cody moved, frowning.

Cody leaned back, his narrowed eyes taking in every aspect of his mother's disheveled appearance. He looked to Xaver next, noting how he too looked a bit ragged. After a long tense moment, his look of suspicion turned to one of surprise. And then one of suffering sadness.
"You guys had a fight, didn't you?"
He sounded so...disappointed.

Ginny's face lost all expression, and she blinked a few times. But instead of agreeing with him, or even disagreeing, she stood, smoothing the front of her shirt.
"I'm going to speak to the doctor. We need to let him know that you aren't fully human.
She gave Xaver a pointed look, meaning that she didn't want Cody to know of their fight. Then she left the room, in search of Cody's doctor.

Cody however, brushed aside the hint and looked directly at his father.
"You guys aren't supposed to fight." He accused his father, "You made Mom cry."

"You guys had a fight, didn't you?"


Blue orbs flickered upward, the dark, moody depths of a gaze far more intuitive than ever given credit, rather shuttered. His very creature at odds, within, with everything and more that he didn't even understand.. Everything, besides the true adoration of Ginny, and of his son. An almost tame sense of gentility creased the corners of his eyes, though a wildness pounded beneath his ribs.
His heart stuttering, as Ginny cast him a fierce gaze, and excused herself away.

Xaver rocked back onto his heels, falling into a more set stance, the bredth of his shoulders taut as the chords of tense muscle streaming down his back.
He denied nothing.

"How are your injuries?"

Blatantly ignoring the question.
Very Xaver-like.

"Dad." Cody pulled the word out, leaning forward with the weight of it. He searched his father's eyes, suddenly looking very afraid.
"Are you leaving again, Dad? For how long?" He sounded upset, "Can't we go with you?"

His mind jumped to another possibility, "Wait, you guys are still getting married, right?"
He bit his lip, a nervous habit picked up from his mother.

Xaver's heart pulled, the pounding beat that sang in his eardrums hiccuping with a mix of surprise, tenderness, and aching remorse. Cody's words taking him slightly off guard, though the underlying frustration and self-disgust that raked through him quickly overlapped as much. Cody drummed at him quickly, and Xaver let him, waiting until a long pause, before he slowly shook his head.

"I'm not going anywhere, Codium."
His low, lilted octaves were heavy with both emotion, and the seriousness of his assurance.

His feet padding soundless over the floor, Xaver leaned onto the side of Cody's bed, leaning slightly over the boy, and running a hand through the boy's thick locks. Missing, briefly, his own hair, and the sense of normalcy.

"If your mother will have me, of course we will be getting married. Nothing has changed enough for that. Though, your healing up will have to be the first step in getting the show on the road. Nothing goes on 'till you're one-hundred percent."

Xaver tried a smile, though he was as good at forcing them, as lying.
And the Fallen lord was in no way, a liar.
..Though he sometimes pushed the truth, or simply avoided it altogether. Beating around the bush.

Cody relaxed as his father's hand touched his hair, and he nodded.
"Okay, dad." He said, his voice sounding rather shaky. He moved his arm, then winced as it throbbed with pain.

"My arm feels like it's on fire." He complained quietly, "Don't tell Mom, but it hurts really bad."

Xaver's strumming heart eased slightly, as Cody's head bobbed in acknowledgement, though the pounding returned sharply, and he tensed when the boy winced.

"..On fire?.."
His head tipped to the side, slightly.
His gaze intense.
"Have you healed on your own noticibly, at all?"

He tried to be as impersonal as he could.
Tried not to remember it was his child, hurting.
Not his boy..

The though was almost too much to bear.

Cody blinked, "I think..." He paused, trying to recall if third degree burns were supposed to have any feeling.

"I couldn't even feel my arm at first. About five minutes after it happened, the feeling came back." He grimaced, "And it hurt really bad."

"I think it's healing, but from the inside out." He explained slowly.

Xaver's mouth tipped upward, slowly, in a very small, but approving smile, even as the creases of his eyes hinted concern, and worry.
He nodded, once, in that proud-parent way, before shifting his gaze. His hand moving over Cody's arm, though not once brushing the boy's agitated skin.

"A very intelligent theory.. Why do you suppose it's so, my son?"

As he spoke, he analyzed.
Assessing the damage... And estimating what could be a recovery rate for Cody..

It was what made Cody different from others, however, that left everything to speculation.
The boys heritage..

Cody paused, "With burns, the nerves are the worst things. If left alone, they can die. Maybe it's just because those were the worst?" He paused, "It's a magical wound...one made of my own energy...maybe that has something to do with it?"

He frowned, thinking.

Ginny finally came back, looking exasperated.
"Stupid doctors!" She said, "There's got to be ten on this floor alone, but none of them is Cody's." She mumbled something under her breath, looking agitated.

Xaver's smile was both wistful, hopeful, and with that i-know-something-you-don't know essence, all entangled into one.
Ginny stepped in, a moment later, and Xaver remained quiet, watching her. His dark gaze concealing the longing to just hold her, and smooth away her frustrations.

"You asked them all?"
Knowing, instictively... of course she had.

"Yes." Ginny said, the word coming out harsher than she had intended. She sat down in a visitor's chair near the bed, placing her forehead in her head. Her head hurt.

Today had just been a bad day.

Cody watched her, "It's okay Mom. It doesn't even hurt." To try and prove his point, he poked himself in the arm. Somehow, he remained completely unexpressive as a surge of pain went through his body. It hurt, but he wouldn't ever let his mom know that.

Xaver's hand brushed over Cody's head again, pushing his bangs back, and temporarily away from his face, an eyebrow lifting as his mouth set, frowning pointedly.
Knowingly.

"Yet," he said, distractedly, though his glare was strongly dissuading the boy to repeat his antic.

For Xaver felt the boy's pain, atop all the others bearing down on him, within the confines of the building.
To an empathetic man with a child in pain on top of everything, the hospital was bearing down on Xaver like a house of horror.

Ginny's empathy had long been reigned in, pulled back so that she wouldn't ever feel what other's felt. She could still, to an extent, fell other's, but he empathy was nowhere as intense as Xaver's.
Or even little Cody's.

However, she knew her son well enough to know that his arm did indeed hurt. She frowned, upset at the whole thing. "Stop it." She said softly to Cody, her eyes wide.
"Don't do that."

Cody looked back, surprised at the trembling her heard in her voice. The weakness.
Slowly, he nodded, "Alright." He told her, glancing at Xaver in wonder.

Empathy was not a skill Xaver specialized in - it was more a natural talent. Though whether more a skill or curse, he was at odds about.
It was not something he thought much about - instead, it came with other mechanic abilities, such as magic. Flying. ..Breathing.

He absorbed Cody's curious look, but his features gave away little.
His dark eyes were solemn, as his thoughts raced. Xaver blinked, in an odd, twitchy manner, before his frown deepened, and he stepped away from Cody's bed.


"I'll find the doctor."

He said it as a matter of fact - and the undertone of his voice relayed certainty of fact.
He wouldn't have it otherwise.

Xaver murmured a soft nothing as he padded across the room, and exited into the hallway.

Ginny watched him go, slumping in her chair. She turned her eyes back to Cody, as he looked at her. Slowly, she offered him a smile.
"Angel, would you like something to drink?"

Cody shrugged, still watching his mother intently.
"Okay." He said.

Ginny nodded and stood, walking to a side table were there sat a pitcher of water and an empty cup. Carefully she poured a cup for Cody, and took it too him. He accepted the cup, but looked her in the eyes.

"Are you ok, Mom?"

Ginny nodded, "Mmmhmm. Just a little shaken up, baby."

Xaver blew out a breath when the heavy door shut behind him, his dark gaze flickering over the hallway, and the small nurses station. He went to the counter and relayed the doctors name, and the plump woman behind the nearest desk pointed down the hallway. Xaver nodded his head in way of thanks, but couldn't find it in him to return the smile. Instead, he turned, and just started walking, eyes searching for what was so far a slippery bastard of a doctor.

He had to do something.
It was very much in Xaver's nature to feel needed. To feel useful.
Finding the doctor, was for him, a way of doing... that something.

Cody's pain was killing him.
Ginny's pain was even worse.

The doctor was walking from his office as Xaver was walking down the hall. He caught sight of Xaver, and tried to duck back into the room, but realized it was of no use. Xaver had obviously spotted him. Sighing, he accepted his fate of having to speak to someone.
"Sir, can I help you?" He asked. The doctor was a rather plump old man. He was nice enough, but rather lazy.

In the room, Cody looked up at his mother still.
"I don't believe you." He said.

"Well, you should." Ginny told him, frowning slightly.

Dark amusement glittered in the Fallen lord's hard gaze as the other unsuccessfully tried to hide - before succumbing to his fate near sheepishly.
"You can," he murmured quietly, his low octaves hard.

Xaver folded his arms over his chest, and looked over the man, before finding his gaze with his own moody, impenatrable blues.
"You've become in command of the services and treatment of my son. I'd like to know what you're doing for him."
His jaw twitched.
"Now," he added, easily.

The doctor fidgeted, taken aback by Xaver.
"Well, um..your son. He's the one with the burns?" How was there any doubt, the two were identical.
"We've hooked him up to an IV to keep him hydrated. Put some cream on the burns and gave him small doses of pain killers." He paused, coughing into a closed fist, "Given a bit of time, he will be able to use his arm. I doubt, however he will gain back full control of the nerves. I'm also going to be straight with you. The skin on his arm will possibly never heal."
He didn't know about Cody's regenerative powers.

"He is."

Cody was nearly a mirror image of Xaver, though many years younger, and ridiculously more innocent.
Through the doctors severe lack of sharp intelligence and the discomfort that was rolling off him in waves, Xaver fought a scowl, biting back a few harsh words that begged to escape while his emotions were still far more open and uncontrolled than he would ever have liked - especially in a hospital.


"The skin will heal. The nerves will regenerate."

Xaver's sidelong look was both distrusting, and anxious.


"A normal child's heart rate should be about ninety to a hundred ten BPM. You've surely noticed Cody's bradycardia. This is not an Arrhythmia, sir. It is genetic - it is natural."
The doctor stared at him.

"Cody is not completely human. That is a certain standard that you are going to have to understand. Confidentiality, as well, is of utmost importance.."
The threat in Xaver's hard, dark blue gaze had the doctor swallowing, and shifting uncomfortably.

"His heartbeat should be lower than you are used to, especially for a child - and regeneration should be quicker - but what I am concerned mostly with, is your drugs. A normal dose can easily be lethal to Cody."





;;BPM -- heart beats per minute
;;Bradycardia -- abnormally slow heart rate
;;Arrhythmia --  an irregularity in the force or rhythm of the heartbeat

"It's simple codine," The doctor stammered, "We try not to give hard pain killers to children." He was indiginat, though terrified. Different? What in the world?

"All of my cases are kept confidential." He said, trying to gain back his confidence.

Cody watched as Ginny bustled around the room, trying to keep herself busy so she wouldn't have to talk about what had happened in the past 24 hours. His eyelids felt heavy, his arm was throbbing, and now she was talking about something.
What?
Something about bringing one of his toys to the hospital.
Cody shrugged, feeling himself start to slip back to sleep.

Ginny noticed, now standing in front of his bed. Her mouth was partway open from stopping mid-sentence, and she watched her small son as he began to drift off. Once he was fully asleep, she twisted her hands in front of her. The harshness of the day finally showed on her face, and she looked ready to collapse in a sobbing heap.
This was too much.

It wasn't, in the end, the doctor's fault, everything that had gone so terribly and completely wrong within the last short accumulation of hours - but Xaver couldn't help it. He wanted someone to blame - something to blame... Someone who didn't matter..
Someone who couldn't matter...

"There is no simple when it comes to our race."
His gaze was as sharp as his tones were harsh.

"And Cody is no normal child. Do you have any idea what that entails? Or are you too caught up in assuming you've seen it all?"

Xaver hissed through his teeth, clenching his jaw against the will and urge to just toss the ignorant fool back into his room and take care of Cody himself.
He would - could - but he was far too shaky, right then...
FAR too shaken up...

Ginny couldn't stand there. She was crying again, and didn't realize it. She turned away, needing to leave the room. Now.
She stepped out into the hallway, looking up and down. She caught sight of Xaver. How could she miss him? No one in the area even compared to him. He was talking to a man, possibly the doctor. And Ginny felt qworry rise up in her chest.
She went to the two men.

The doctor shifted, his face growing red as he worked his mouth. He tried to say something, anything, but nothing came to mind. His stammering was interrupted as Ginyn stepped up, however.

"Doctor? I'm Ginny Weasly, Cody Xian's mother. Tell me, when do you plan on releasing my son?"
She just wanted to take her baby home. She glanced sideways at Xaver, noting his tense body language. Her eyes went back to the doctor, her body looking deflated.

The doctor seemed to regain his composure, or at least a little bit of it as he looked at the weary woman before him. She looked weakened, upset, tired, defeated.
"Possibly within a week, Ms. Weasly."

"No, unacceptable. I want the paperwork within the hour, you are going to discharge him." Her voice was dull, the words spoken as if she couldn't possibly imagine this man arguing with her.

He shook his head, "Ms. Weasly, you don't understand. He isn't healed enough."

The doctor sputtered and flinched, though Xaver could hardly blame him.
Ginny had been even more direct than he had.

The man never stood a chance.


"What else need there be done?"

"He needs to grow back 50% of his skin! The nerves, if there are any left, are at the surface. He's in intense pain, possibly more than I can describe to you. He needs to stay in a hospital so his arm doesn't become infected!" The doctor was trying to get them to understand. He thought they were simply being parents, thinking they knew better when they didn't.

But Ginny and Xaver did know better. Ginny herself had studied to become a healer. Xaver knew his own kind. No one knew better than them.

A shadow passed over Ginny's face and without thinking she reached out and shoved the doctor with one hand. It wasn't a hard shove, but he hadn't expected it, and so he flew backwards into the wall. His eyes grew wide as Ginny spoke, keeping her calm by the grace of God.
"You misunderstood me, doctor. I wasn't asking if you would release him today. I was telling you."

Ginny shoved the doctor back, and Xaver did nothing, resting easily on his heels and letting no expression contort the smooth planes of his handsome face.
"As I was saying, monsieur. Cody is not like normal boys. And yes he may be in pain, but you are more demensions more likely to kill him than we are ever to fail at healing our own son."

The doctor's mouth opened, and closed, much like a fish for all of a few seconds before he finally regained some of himself.
"Low heart rate? Medicine kill him? Your race be d**ned!"
He shook his head indignantly.
"Look, lady. He is not fit to be released!"

"He is fit to be released when I say he is." Ginny said, her voice coming out harsh. She took a small step forward, losing her temper. She pushed the doctor again, this time keeping a hand firmly on his chest. Her eyes flashed with sudden, intense anger.

"Doctor, you have one of two options here. You release my son, and I don't kill you now on the spot. Or, you argue with me and you will be so far gone even a real doctor won't be able to do anything for you."

She pushed slightly too hard on his chest, making sure the pressure began to hurt.
"Which will it be?"
Her voice was shaking, and it seemed she would kill the man no matter what he decided to do.

For all of a few moments, Xaver didn't react. Watching them, mute, with little expression and less breathing.
Then he was stepping forword, a gentle hand coming to rest on Ginny's right shoulder, neither restraining nor commanding. Instead, requesting - reassuring.

"Ginny."
His tones were a low murmur - simple, but much more implied in the lilt in which he said her name, than most could ever figure.

When his blue oceans slid to the doctor, the human cringed, not nearly accustomed to the inhuman chill in Xaver's depths - his gaze far more penetrating, and knowing, than one's gaze ever should be.
"You realize, sir, you really have no choice in this matter..."
The words rolled off his tongue almost affectionately - though the severe lack of feeling brought a pale palor to the man's flesh.
"This is.."
He waved his hand absently. Completely, and unnervingly calm.
"More of a formality, you see.."

Ginny spoke again, struggling to keep what was left of her calm. In a single 24 hours, she'd gone through an emotional hell. She was a nervous wreck, and this damable doctor was not helping things.

"We are taking Cody out of her within the hour. Whether you have the discharge papers or not is irrelevant to me." He voice shook, and now her whole body was as well. The emotions, the mental stress, the worry, the suddenness of it all. She wasn't going to be able to hold it all in herself.

She felt like screaming. She felt like crying again. She felt such an anger towards this doctor, such anger that made her want to harm him so bad he'd remember it 90 years down the road. Anger that made her want to throw him around until he begged for mercy.

Xaver's hand on her shoulder did nothing but keep her from doing as she wished. He was anchoring her to the real world, even if he didn't realize it. He was keeping her sane.

For the time being.

She felt so insane at the moment, she doubted he would be able to keep her from doing something by being so passive.