I Got It All Wrong [MAX]

[Rowena Jones]

Rowena rushed around the Spell Damage ward checking on the patients and nodding in satisfaction. The past three days had been a haze, a constant stream of patients, paperwork and anything else she could find to keep her busy. She’d come to work early the day after her date with Max, unable to stand being alone in the house where only hours ago she’d been happy to see him and hadn’t left since. Jackson was back so she didn't need to use Max's services at all and had quite easily managed to avoid him.

She'd admitted to herself that she’d over reacted somewhat but resolved that it was for the best. Whatever had happened between them, it had been too good. It would never have stayed like that and then what? Nothing would come of Max and her together and when they eventually broke up work would have become intolerable and she'd have been left with nothing. No. It was better this way.

It didn’t make it easy though. Her heart kept sending her brief flashes of the afternoon in the bookstore, of the walk in the park and even of the day of the fundraiser. It hurt to know that she didn’t have that anymore but as her mind reminded her, he’d been too distracting. She’d managed all her life without Max. So what if he’d shown her in just a few days that life could be so much more. She didn’t need more. She needed to find the cure and help her mother. Nothing else mattered.

The stack of completed paperwork on her desk proved that she needed to be focused. She had a lot to do and Max Kameren had almost become a disruption to her carefully compartementalised world. A vibration in her pocket had her pausing. Taking out her phone, she glanced at the number in confusion. Her mother was calling her? That was rare. Elizabeth Rose Covington didn’t usually have the mental capacity to call anyone these days. Rowena answered the call but was quickly reminded that Magical energies tended to interfere with Muggle phone signal.

“Mum? Mum. Give me two minutes. I need to go outside,” she said already rushing towards the exit. She passed Bryn on her way out.

“Bryn, I’m just going outside to answer a call. Get Mrs Addles ready for a check up, please. I should be able to discharge her today. I’ll be 5 minutes.”

The trainee healer nodded, used to Rowena’s quick orders. It was how she ran the department and it was efficient if not the most friendly approach. Satisfied that work would continue, Rowena finally made her way out of the hospital and into Muggle streets.

“Mum? Are you still there? Why are you calling me?”

Rowena frowned as she tried to make out the words her mother was saying. The voice on the other end sounded hoarse, as though she’d been shouting or crying. Goosebumps broke out on Rowena’s arms as a sixth sense told her something was wrong.

“Mum? What’s wrong? Put dad on the phone.” Her father would tell her what had happened. She wasn’t altogether sure why he hadn’t been the one to call her in the first place. A feeling of panic slowly made its way through Rowena as he mother continued to blubber through the line.

“MUM! Tell me what happened!” she shouted but was greeted with the sound of the phone falling and hitting the floor. The five seconds that passed between the drop and someone picking the phone back up were the longest in Rowena’s life. Time slowed while her heart beat a thousand times a minute. Blood rushed in her ears.

"Hello? Mum? Mum! Dad? Anyone?!What is go-"

“Hello?” came a male voice that Rowena didn’t recognize. “Is this Rowena Covington?”

“Yes yes. Who are you? What’s happening?” she said frantically. Never had she felt more powerless than she did right now. The confusion over the last few days disappeared in her desperation to know just what the fuck was going on with her family.

“Miss Covington, my name is Dr. Roberts. I’m afraid your father has had a heart attack...”

This time it was Rowena’s phone that fell from lifeless fingers to hit the floor with a resounding crack. No. Not her father. He was fine. She'd called him just a few days ago. He'd said he was feeling great. It was her mother. Her mother needed help. Not daddy... She sunk bonelessly to the floor. She didn’t know how long she sat there, she didn’t notice Bryn coming out to look for her and running inside when he couldn't get an answer from her, didn’t notice much of anything, her mind so wrapped up in the fact that she had gotten everything so very very wrong.

[Max Kameren]

For the last three days at St. Mungo’s, a red pin moved through the hallways. The auras were the same as they’d always been, but he found himself searching out the red pin every now and then in the back of his mind. He didn’t need to see her, Merlin knew he was the last person she would want right now. He just wanted to know she was alright. Every now and then the pin would pass by a room he was in and jab at his consciousness, reminding him of the other night.

Days later, he still felt guilty. It was a conflicted guilt; Max didn’t think he’d done anything specifically wrong, he just wished he’d done it differently. He’d wanted to go slowly, and he knew he needed to protect himself early in relationships for his own sanity’s sake. The way his mind worked, it was very easy for him to meld into another person and lose track of himself. It had happened in the past, and it never turned out well. Max just wished he could go back and figure out a different route: maybe he could sidestep the question, instead of the unsatisfying half-response he’d given. Secretly he knew nothing short of an enthusiastic ‘yes’ would have worked for Rowena, but Max wasn’t willing to lie to her.

The red pin disappeared for a moment on the third morning. Max found himself breathing easier, able to fully concentrate on his potions without the tracking the pin’s motion. His relief would be short-lived.

“Max.” Bryn stood at the threshold of his office, his nerves a tension wire running between them. Max didn’t look up from his work.

“Jackson’s in Long-Term Care until eleven if you need potions.”

“Come on, Max. It’s Covington. We need your help.”

He paused for a moment, sighing quietly. “I won’t be able to help you.”

“She went outside with her muggle voice box and never came back. I went to check on her and she’s totally catatonic. I don’t know anything about muggle stuff, you’re the only one who knows what might be happening. Please.” Shit. Max put down his quill and shrugged out of his Mungo’s robes, wordlessly following Bryn outside in his muggle clothes.

Bryn held back a little when they approached outside, nodding to Max in Rowena’s direction on the ground outside. Max nodded, turning for the door and dismissing Bryn over his shoulder to resume work as if nothing happened. He knew Rowena would prefer it if whatever was happening wasn’t a public spectacle for their coworkers.

“Hey.” Max crouched down to Rowena’s level, dipping his head to try to meet her eyes. “Where is she? You need to be there, whatever it is. Come on, let’s go.”

The piano wire was back and tighter than ever, to the point Max had to concentrate not to croak when he spoke. There was no response from her, just the tightening of the wire. Her cracked phone sat lifeless between them on the pavement, and Max picked it up. He managed to get it to open and looked at the texts for clues. No, wait. They’re having their 50th anniversary, so they must be older. They must have called. He found the recent calls and called back the most recent number. He got lucky: the phone was answered by the doctor, who informed him of where they were and what was happening. When he had the information he needed he bid the doctor goodbye and pocketed the phone, kneeling again by Rowena.

“Come on, Ro. We’ve got to go and I don’t know Nottingham enough to apparate there.” He put his hands on her shoulders and tried to inject a small amount of warmth into her aura; not enough to affect her emotions, just to let her know he was there and wouldn’t be leaving. In times of trouble, stand and defend. It was what he was taught, it was what he did. No questions asked. “Please, Ro. You need to be there now.”

[Rowena Jones]

There was a sharp twinge of recognition as Max approached that reached Rowena through the numbness of everything else. He was here. She barely questioned it, too far gone to return to pride and stubbornness. He was here, as much good as that would do.

“Hey.” Max crouched down to Rowena’s level, dipping his head to try to meet her eyes. “Where is she? You need to be there, whatever it is. Come on, let’s go.”

She shook her head minutely. Not her. Him. Him. Him. Daddy… For a second it felt like she couldn’t breathe, the whole world shrinking around her and darkness pricked at the edges of her conscience but Rowena managed to take a deep shuddering breath and with it she slowly started to crawl her way out of shock.

How much time had passed? It could have been seconds. Or hours. Max was on her phone talking to someone but her hearing still felt dimmed, like those senses weren’t hers. Like she was watching this awful terrible movie and wanted to switch it off but instead was being forced to watch the whole thing.

“Come on, Ro. We’ve got to go and I don’t know Nottingham enough to apparate there.”

Again a tiny shake of the head, but Max’s touch sent a small something into her, burning through the fog around her mind. She still felt heavy, slow, but she wasn’t watching anymore. She was living it.

“Please, Ro. You need to be there now.”

“I can’t apparate right now,” she said, her voice hoarse, finally dragging her gaze to meet his. Apparition required pure focus especially cross country.“There’s an emergency portkey in my office. For my mum…” she choked off. “Max… it’s my dad. Not my mum. I was wrong. I got it all, everything wrong.” The panic threatened to take over again but he was right. She had to get there. She didn't even know the rest, had dropped the phone too quickly. But heart attacks didn't always mean... death. Maybe she could still help, do something. The thought buoyed her, giving her new reason.

She tried to get up, but her heart was still racing, and the adrenaline rush that had sped throughout her body at the onset of the panic attack had left everything weak. “Can you just help me get to it?” she asked him helplessly. He didn’t want all of this, hadn’t wanted to come to a party in two months so she wouldn’t ask for more.

[Max Kameren]

“There’s an emergency portkey in my office. For my mum…” she choked off. “Max… it’s my dad. Not my mum. I was wrong. I got it all, everything wrong.”

“I know, Ro. We’ll get you to him.” Max stood and extended a hand to help her up, his voice even. In times of panic or pain, Max’s default was to shut down his emotions. It was a protective measure, meant to keep as few voices in his head as possible. He would put his head down and work through whatever Rowena needed of him.

“Can you just help me get to it?”

“Course.” Max took Rowena by the hands and pulled her to her feet. He stooped so her arm would fit around his shoulder and he hooked his arm around her waist for support. Slowly, they made their way back into the hospital. Thankfully the main entrance seemed to be devoid of staff; save for one receptionist who knew Max well enough to keep quiet. He nodded at her in thanks as he turned them down an alcove, where he hit the button for a Catacombs lift.

As they entered the lift Max sent a patronus off to Bryn back in the ward: Press the Catacombs lift button in your wing, please. If his plan worked, they would have a relatively quick way of getting to Rowena’s office without having to deal with their gawking coworkers. Max remembered the few weeks after his father’s death at the hospital painfully well, and had learned these shortcuts for that very reason. There was nothing worse than grieving around nosey coworkers.

He let her go in the lift, letting her lean on the railing. Luckily they’d gotten a newer one from the old muggle hospital. After a moment they started into motion, going up to the Spell Damage Ward. He let out a breath in the tense silence of the lift, looking up at the ceiling. What was he supposed to say here? He didn’t know much, besides that her dad had had a heart attack and was at a muggle hospital. He didn’t want to tell it was all going to be okay, he didn’t know that. They were both medical professionals, they both knew how bad a heart attack could be.

After what felt like an eternity, the lift stopped at the Spell Damage Ward and opened, where Bryn was waiting. Max gave Rowena his arm to steady herself on as the three made a beeline for her office.

“What should I tell people while you’re gone?”

“Family emergency.” Max kept his words short as they turned into the office. “Send a message to Harper, she needs to come in and cover for me. In the meantime send sparks to Jackson and tell him his apprentice needs to keep an eye on my potions until she gets there.”

“You’re going too?” Max replied to Bryn’s question by closing Rowena’s office door on him.

Max let Rowena go, turning his back on the office door and looking around. “What’s the port key?” He asked, emerald eyes searching. “And where will it drop us? The doctor said Queen’s Medical Centre.”

[Rowena Jones]

Rowena was thankful that Max didn’t say anything in the lift up to her office. Now that the initial shock was wearing off she was aware enough to feel a little embarrassed. It was really a little awkward. They hadn’t exactly ended things well the other day. Well done universe. Excellent timing as usual. But she was thankful he’d found a way to get her up to the fourth floor quickly and without encountering anyone else. This was private. Rumours would get out eventually of today’s events but for now she couldn’t deal with anything else.

Bryn met them as the doors opened and she smiled shakily at him assuming he’d been the one to get Max, no one else had known where she was, and wanting to let him know she was thankful even if she wasn’t up to doing much else.

“What should I tell people while you’re gone?”

Rowena opened her mouth to answer but Max beat her to it. “Family emergency.” She shrugged. Good enough. Milton and Albert would know, or at least assume it was to do with her mother. She could tell them the truth later. When she also knew more.

“You’re going too?”

“No he’s not...” Ro said absent mindedly, already stumbling towards her desk. Why would he? Wait, did he think he was coming along? He didn’t want to come to a party but a potential funeral was fine… bloody hell the man confused her.

“What’s the port key?” He asked, emerald eyes searching. “And where will it drop us? The doctor said Queen’s Medical Centre.”

“One second,” she mumbled reaching into the drawer that held the small hand-made witch doll her mother had given her when she was eight. “Goes straight to QMC,” she said straightening up… ‘The doctor said…’

“What else did they say?” she asked urgently whirling on Max, almost tripping as her legs weren’t quite able to keep up with the sudden movement. She caught herself on the edge of the desk, and stared at Max. She’d missed his earlier confirmation that it had been her dad not her mum. The phone call. He must have called the doctor. “MAX! What did they say? Is he…” she gulped, not entirely sure she was ready for the answer, “…is he alive?”

Unable to wait any longer, Rowena held out the doll towards Max. “You said you were coming?” she said before activating the transportation device, grimacing at the unpleasant sensation behind her navel.

Entering a dusty, currently unused and very cramped cleaning cupboard while feeling nauseous was not ideal. She quickly stepped away from her too close position with Max and opened the door to peak out and make sure they were alone.

Satisfied, she walked out and headed straight to the reception desk where a familiar blonde haired woman sat. Rowena’s mother had been in and out of this hospital enough that Rowena knew several staff. It had been this very hospital that Rowena had attempted to complete her Muggle Doctor training in and though she’d dropped out, it was still common knowledge that Rowena had medical training.

“Rowena! I’m so sorry to hea-”

“Thanks Rebecca…. Which room?”

“Room 552, CCU. Dr Roberts wants to speak to you quickly before you go in?”

Rowena nodded, already thinking about the best way to get to the Coronary Care Unit. “Where is he?”

Rebecca paused. Keeping track of everyone’s whereabouts was not an easy task in a hospital. “He might actually be checking on your father now. You should be able to catch him,”

Rowena looked towards Max, realizing she’d forgotten about him in her rush to get to her parents. “You’re coming with me right?” Awkward thought it might be, she wasn’t sure how much longer this determination would carry her and if the panic hit again, she didn’t want to be alone.

[Max Kameren]

Max watched Rowena closely as she dug in her desk for the port key with frantic fingers. The piano wire was still there, but Max was starting to get used to it; it was just going to be one of those days. There would be no release for Rowena’s tension, so he’d just have to wear it.

“What else did they say?” He jumped when she whipped around suddenly, leaning forward to try to catch her before she caught herself on the desk instead. “MAX! What did they say? Is he…” she gulped, not entirely sure she was ready for the answer, “…is he alive?”

Max nodded, trying to smile reassuringly. He tried to keep his own doubt out of his mind: dad had been alive, too. “Yeah, Ro. He’s alive.”

“You said you were coming?” He nodded and took hold of the port key, cringing with the unpleasant sensation of their movement.

They reappeared in a dark, cramped room of the hospital. The port key had made them suddenly too close, and Max tried to lean back but felt a hanging mop on bush against the hair on the back of his head: ah, a broom closet. He reached over and opened the door, trying to shrink back enough that Rowena could exit first with as little brushing against him as possible. When he got out of the closet and dusted off, he looked up to see Rowena was already in conversation with a muggle acquaintance of hers.

“Rowena! I’m so sorry to hea-”

“Thanks Rebecca…. Which room?”

He remembered Rowena talking about going to muggle medical school; this must have been where she practiced, too. She was the first Healer with muggle parents he’d heard of who willingly went into muggle medicine; Max had taken a single semester of medicine at UCL by his mum’s insistence after Hogwarts, but hadn’t gotten much out of it. He could manage in a muggle medical setting by basing his knowledge in his healing background, usually. But with Rowena around, he was glad he wouldn’t have to.

“Room 552, CCU. Dr Roberts wants to speak to you quickly before you go in?”

“Where is he?”

“He might actually be checking on your father now. You should be able to catch him,”

Rowena looked towards Max, realizing she’d forgotten about him in her rush to get to her parents. “You’re coming with me right?”

Max nodded when he was called upon. “Yeah, I’m here.” During their conversation he stood patiently with his hands in his pockets, waiting for her to lead the way. As they walked Max used his empathy to try to shore up a support wall for Ro when he would feel her aura regress back to panic. When she needed someone to fall back on, he was there.

[Rowena Jones]

“Yeah, I’m here.”

Her heart twinged again, but she shook it off. No time for any of that now. Both of her parents needed her help. If there had been any hope for romance it was gone now. She’d gone on a date and then her father had gotten sick. The universe was obviously telling her to stay focused. She ignored the voice in her head telling her the two were completely unrelated.

They were just turning the last corner before room 552 when they crossed paths with Dr Roberts.

“Miss Covington?”

Rowena nodded, “Dr Roberts? Rebecca said you wanted to speak with me?”

“Yes, I’ve only recently moved to this hospital but the staff have told me you know your stuff so I’ll jump right in if I may?” Rowena nodded again. It was strange being on this side of the conversation, of not knowing and having her heart beat so quickly. It took her back to the day she’d found out about her mum and she felt the panic rise. She reached out unconsciously for Max’s hand, needing to feel something other than blind panic as the doctor told her more of her father’s medical history. Apparently, Lord Edward Covington had been keeping a fair few things from his daughter.

“…He’s stable at the moment but we’d suggest keeping any visits to less than 15 minutes for the next few days while he recovers. Your mother won’t leave him but given the circumstances, we’ll keep them together. I’ve been assured her condition is stable around your father?”

“Yeah, Mum never forgets Daddy,” Rowena said absently, mind whirling with all the information she had just learned. Diabetes, heart palpitations, the beginnings of kidney failure… how had she missed it all?!

“Right well. Let me know if you need anything else,” Dr Roberts finished before moving onto his next patients. Unable to wait any longer, Rowena moved to enter the room but was reminded that she was holding Max’s hand. She dropped it quickly, avoiding his gaze, angry at herself for reaching for him in the first place. Whatever they had between them was over. He was just being nice in a shitty situation and then they’d go back to how things had been before.

Rowena smiled sadly as she entered the room. The sight that greeted her both saddened her and lifted her heart immensely. The love her parent’s had for each other had never failed to brighten her life and now, as she looked upon them, her father laying pale in his bed and her mother pressed up against him, squeezing into the narrow space, she thought maybe things could still be ok.

Both their eyes opened as she approached, her mother’s gaze narrowing in thought, her father’s exhaustion apparent even as he smiled at her.

“Hello darling,” her father croaked.

“Daddy… Mum.” Rowena said softly. “Mum, it’s me, Rowena, your daughter…” she hastily added as she noticed her mum failing to remember her face. It was easy to recognize the signs after all these years. A frown. The tilt of a question. The eyes narrowing in possible anger or fear of a stranger. She was used to being forgotten, and instead took comfort in the knowledge that her mother never ever forgot her husband. He was and always would be her rock, her harbour in the storm and Rowena was suddenly grasped by the idea that her mum might have to do without him. She’d never thought that her father might be the first to go.

She approached them slowly, not sure exactly where she sat with her mother at that moment. It could be difficult, if she didn’t recognize her or accept her; Elizabeth could fly into a rage or break down in fear, neither of which Rowena wanted to happen right now. The young healer let out a sigh of relief as her mother smiled at her and settled further into her husband’s embrace. Today, for now, they could be a family.

Rowena took the final few steps more solidly now, sitting in the chair by her father’s bedside table, and taking his hand. He felt frail, the skin paper thin and Rowena wondered how she had not seen it. When had her father gotten so old? He’d always been her pillar of strength, her mountain, solid and sure. She moved her fingers to feel his pulse and sighed heavily.

“Daddy… the doctor told me you’ve been having severe palpitations for months. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have done something to prevent this…”

“Rowena Elizabeth Covington!” her father interrupted, his voice hoarse but with enough anger that Rowena looked up startled. “Don’t you even begin to blame yourself young lady. You cannot fix every problem in the world. I have watched you forsake too much already to let you go any further. Enough is enough.” Rowena blinked, unused to hearing such a stern tone from her dad. “We both love you with all of our hearts, but perhaps we spoiled you too much. I should have put my foot down a long time ago. I saw it with James but I never thought he was right for you so I didn’t say anything then. Nevertheless, you cannot give up everything for us. We have had long happy lives my girl. And I’m not quite ready to go yet, but I want you to live a long happy life too-”

“I am ha-”

“Maybe so darling, but there’s more to life than work. When was the last time you spent the day with someone outside of that hospital? The last day you didn’t speak of work?”

Rowena’s eyes flashed involuntarily towards where Max was standing and her father’s sharp gaze caught the movement. A soft smile graced his haggard features as hope blossomed in his heart and he examined the stranger in the room. His daughter had brought a man friend.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us then Rowena? Remember manners make-“

“-eth man. Sorry daddy.” She looked at Max and beckoned him forward. “Daddy… this is Max Kameren, Max, this is my father, Edward Charles Covington.”

“Kameren huh? Not the same one you mentioned that day in London?” Edward’s eyes had already gotten a determined glimmer in them even as he relaxed into the pillows as exhaustion washed over him.

“DAD!” Rowena hissed blushing. There was nothing wrong with her father’s memory and even after a bloody heart attack he was still able to embarrass her.

“You work with my daughter if I’m not mistaken right son?” Edward continued as if he hadn’t heard his daughter. If he wasn’t long for this world, he wasn’t above a bit of match making. This young man had helped his daughter today and that was a fine start. “We’ve never met any of her co-workers. She's good at her job isn't she?” he said proudly.

“Dad. You’ve just had a heart attack. Can we focus on you please?” Rowena interjected, unable to look at either men, her gaze falling instead on her mother… who winked at her. Oh for the love of Magic. Both of her parents were in on it now. Of course they were. Alzheimers and severe heart damage weren’t going to stop the elder Covingtons. She should have known. She didn’t get her stubborn will and determination from thin air.

“You get her out of that hospital though ok son? You youngsters need to get out more. Have fun. Relax. Fall in love.”

‘Oh wow. Subtle there dad, thanks…’ Rowena thought as she finally met Max’s gaze. “Sorry,” she mouthed.

[Max Kameren]

During their walk through the hospital and Rowena’s conversation with Dr. Roberts, Max was just an accessory following behind the leader. He was moral support, here when she needed him. He raised an eyebrow when she reached for his hand and clasped it, surprised she reached out to him. He couldn’t help but snort in amusement when she realized what she’d done a moment later, letting his hand drop in disgust. He followed dutifully behind her as she burst into the hospital room to greet her parents, leaning against the door frame quietly with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Hello darling,” her father croaked.

“Daddy… Mum.” Rowena said softly. “Mum, it’s me, Rowena, your daughter…” Max kept his eyes on the floor to let the Covington’s have their moment privately. He expanded out his empathy to fill the room with calm and warmth; he’d worked with patients similar to Rowena’s mum before, and knew what kind of tone to set for visits to go more smoothly.

“Daddy… the doctor told me you’ve been having severe palpitations for months. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have done something to prevent this…”

“Rowena Elizabeth Covington!” her father interrupted, his voice hoarse but with enough anger that Rowena looked up startled. “Don’t you even begin to blame yourself young lady. You cannot fix every problem in the world. I have watched you forsake too much already to let you go any further. Enough is enough.” Max couldn’t help the small amused smile that rose in his cheeks as Lord Covington dressed down his daughter. It was the same kind of childish entertainment-slash-secondhand-embarrassment he would get watching Eden get scolded when they were kids. Sure, a lot of the things he was saying could also be applied to Max if the tables turned, but right now it was Rowena getting chided, so it was funny. “We both love you with all of our hearts […] but I want you to live a long happy life too-”

“I am ha-”

“Maybe so darling, but there’s more to life than work. When was the last time you spent the day with someone outside of that hospital? The last day you didn’t speak of work?”

Max’s smile dropped suddenly when all eyes turned to him. He smiled somewhat awkwardly, his green eyes darting to Rowena looking for what to do. In panic-mode Max was so focused on the goal of getting Rowena to the hospital that he hadn’t really thought of the fact that he was about to meet her parents. Max wasn’t good with introductions, and rarely made a good impression. He shuffled awkwardly, straightening his posture under the Covington’s scrutiny.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us then Rowena? Remember manners make-“

“-eth man. Sorry daddy.” She looked at Max and beckoned him forward. “Daddy… this is Max Kameren, Max, this is my father, Edward Charles Covington.” Max nodded in silent greeting, not sure if he was supposed to step forward and shake hands or not when the other man was in a hospital bed.

“Kameren huh? Not the same one you mentioned that day in London?” 

“DAD!”

“You work with my daughter if I’m not mistaken right son? We’ve never met any of her co-workers. She's good at her job isn't she?” he said proudly. 

“She does alright, I suppose.” He smiled slyly, eyes darting to Rowena to look for her reaction. The waves of outraged embarrassment radiating off of Rowena made Max really like Edward Covington.

“Dad. You’ve just had a heart attack. Can we focus on you please?”

“You get her out of that hospital though ok son? You youngsters need to get out more. Have fun. Relax. Fall in love.”

Max hung his head to stifle a laugh, the tops of his ears turning pink from the awkwardness of the situation. He caught Rowena’s silent apology and shook his head slightly to wave her off. If Rowena had to deal with Milton and Albert at work all the time, he could endure this. “I’m just here as moral support, for now.” That for now was probably unnecessary he thought with an embarrassed cringe. That would only encourage them; now they’d never stop. He’d catch hell from Rowena for that later.

“Hello, what’s your name?” Max turned his attention to Rowena’s mother, realizing he hadn’t yet been introduced. He could tell she was suspicious of the young intruders, so he didn’t move forward to greet her, instead tweaking his empathy to push a slightly more comforting environment. Now he was sure Rowena would notice what he was doing, from when he would be called to the Long Term Ward at Mungo’s. He kept an eye on her, looking for a signal to pull back if she wanted him to.

[Rowena Jones]

Rowena was burning up in embarrassment. She’d come here to help her dad and was instead stuck in what could only be described as hell. Her heart was cheering events on, whole heartedly on board with her parents, while her mind was trying to block out the whole affair.

“I’m just here as moral support, for now.”

For now?! What was that supposed to mean? She wrinkled her nose in thought. She chose to understand it as they’d go back to ignoring each other as soon as they returned to Mungos… but her dad… she groaned. The young witch glared at Max, her apology from moments ago forgotten. Her heart wondered how Max had meant it and Rowena glowered at the overall confusion that Max Kameren was causing in her life.

“Dad, please… you really should be resting. Not trying to ruin your daughter’s life.” She said quietly to him, fussing with his pillows and trying to distract herself from the flipfloping of her own emotions.

Edward conceded, for now, happy enough to see his daughter so frazzled over a man. She was usually so uptight and guarded. He remembered her bringing James home once or twice and she’d still been the same. Oh there’d been a little more laughter and some smiles but he wanted more for his wonderful girl. He’d been so very lucky to find Elizabeth so young and they’d shared the most amazing life together. There had never been a dull moment with his wife, regardless of her illness, she’d still bring such light every day.

He wanted the same for his daughter and if this man could get under her skin like no one had before, well that might be what Rowena needed. Edward also acknowledged that his matchmaking efforts had tired him more than he’d expected but they’d been very successful. That 'for now' was promising indeed. He should have made it a career. Body aching slightly he settled further into his bed, watching as his wife sat up and smiled sleepily, knowing what was to come.

“Hello, what’s your name?”

Rowena felt the change in the room and glanced at Max but said nothing. Her mother could be very unpredictable. If Max could help calm the environment down then that could only be a good thing. She watched as the suspicion melted off her mother’s face. Today seemed to be a good day for her. Her father had said the treatment she was on now seemed to be working well at managing the symptoms but Rowena hadn’t been up to visit in a few weeks.

“Elizabeth, but you can call me Lizzie,” her mother said and Rowena started. Bloody hell. What was going on? Was the treatment failing and her mother regressing? Oh that would be the icing on the cake if he mother suddenly thought she was younger and started to flirt with Max. Rowena looked at her father for guidance but he was just smiling. “Our daughter is so pretty don’t you think? You two would make such cute children together,”

Rowena died. “Who needs water? Water? Yes? Ok,” she said not waiting for a response, grabbing Max’s arm on the way out and rushing out of the room, trying to ignore the adorable laughter coming from inside. She was happy that they were laughing after what was sure to have been an awful morning but she did wish it wasn’t at her expense.

“I am so so so sorry Max,” she said leaning against the wall in the corridor. “Looks like I’ve missed a few advances in Muggle medicine lately.” She made a mental note to read up on current practices and update herself before remembering she was actually kind of mad at Max. “What did you mean I only do alright at work?! And why did you have to say for now!?”

[Max Kameren]

“Elizabeth, but you can call me Lizzie,” 

“Nice to meet you, Lizzie.” Max smiled and nodded his head in greeting.

“Our daughter is so pretty don’t you think? You two would make such cute children together,”

“Who needs water? Water? Yes? Ok,” Max could barely let the shock register in his mind before Rowena was pulling him out of the room by his elbow. It hadn’t occurred to Max until it was too late what the picture of Max accompanying Rowena to the hospital would look like to her parents, and his interactions made things worse. Max grimaced apologetically at Rowena as they leaned against the wall in the hallway, bumping his head against the wall. This was generally how he operated on first impressions outside a professional setting: awkward. He never knew if he was supposed to interact based on the formalities of a social setting, or the signals he got through his empathy. He generally chose wrong.

“I am so so so sorry Max,” she said leaning against the wall in the corridor. “Looks like I’ve missed a few advances in Muggle medicine lately.”

“No, I’m sorry,” He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, trying not to make eye contact with the imagined-mother-of-his-children from moments ago. He cringed again at the thought. “I’m bad with this stuff.”

“What did you mean I only do alright at work?!” His anxiety gave way to a grin when he realized he’d successfully annoyed her. It was refreshing to get a bit of their usual dynamic back. “And why did you have to say for now!?”

“Alright, ‘for now’ was a reflex, that’s my fault. Sorry.” He nodded his head in agreement as he thought about it: that was bad. It was honest, on his part, but not something he should say to Ro’s parents. There really wasn’t anything he should be saying in front of Ro’s parents. He crossed his arms, pushing off the wall to take a step further away from Rowena and meet her eyes. “So, what do you think? Is he going to be okay?” His question implied another: Are you going to be okay? He wasn't sure how much he could help at this point, and if it would be better for the Covington's, he would return to Mungo's. 

[Rowena Jones]

“I am so so so sorry Max,” she said leaning against the wall in the corridor. “Looks like I’ve missed a few advances in Muggle medicine lately.”

“No, I’m sorry. I’m bad with this stuff.”

Rowena laughed humourlessly. “I don’t know how anyone would be good in this situation. They’ve never been this bad before, I don’t know what’s gotten into them,” she said, cringing as she thought back on the past few moments. She’d barely been in the room for a couple of minutes and her parents had managed to turn her several shades of red and made her leave the room! She stood there awkwardly a few seconds before realizing she was actually a little bit annoyed at Max.

“What did you mean I only do alright at work?! And why did you have to say for now!?”

“Alright, ‘for now’ was a reflex, that’s my fault. Sorry.”

Rowena nodded sharply in acknowledgment. It was good that he could recognize his fault in the situation. A sharp voice in her mind chided her, reminding her that she’d also acted rashly the other night and that maybe an apology for that would be a good way to go. She was still wary though, unsure what he meant by that pesky ‘for now’. Did he mean he still wanted more or did he mean he was only here for today? Never had a man more thoroughly confused her than Max Kameren.

“So, what do you think? Is he going to be okay?”

The young witch paused. In her earlier blind panic, having Max there had been a saving grace. He’d helped her far more than he should have really, all things considered. And seeing him again had sent her through the entire spectrum of emotions. But he was drawing back now, she could see it in his posture and for some reason that made her heart hurt most of all. She realized that up until now she had been leading the whole post-date interactions… but now that an apology was ready to burst from her lips, it was Max suddenly dictating the terms of their relationship. They knew enough personal information about each other to ever go back to being just reluctant co workers, but it seemed like they were going to try and do that all the same.

“Looks like it,” she said, even as part of her screamed at her to just apologise. She’d been wrong at the restaurant but pride made her swallow her apology. If he’d moved on, she would try to as well. She pushed off the wall too and stood there awkwardly, not sure how to say good bye. “Thank you Max. For coming and helping and everything today. You didn’t have to.” Was she supposed to wave? Shake his hand? She settled for a shy smile. “I should probably go back and check on them. I guess I’ll see you at work?”

For her, it was an olive branch. If nothing else could come of the past few weeks, maybe at least, they could be civil at work. She ignored her heart as it screamed at her that she wanted more, more, more with every beat. One last tentative smile and she returned to her parents, fussing about the room, taking care of them and brushing off their questions about Max and where had he gone.

[Max Kameren]

“So, what do you think? Is he going to be okay?” The question was a pointed one: are you going to be okay? Max was glad to have been able to help Rowena through a tough moment, but beyond that he couldn't stay. If their one failed date was any evidence, this couldn't work. As much as his subconscious betrayed him with the 'for now', the logical part of him knew it was best if they moved on. If she could do it, he could too.

“Looks like it,” she said, “Thank you Max. For coming and helping and everything today. You didn’t have to.”

"Of course," He shuffled a bit awkwardly as they both tried to figure out how to say goodbye. A part of him wanted to hug her, but the movement forward made the piano wire pull back on him like a leash. It was a strange line to walk, this tug-of-war between friend, adversary, and romantic interest. Now that he was alone with her he didn't know what to do. "Anytime."

“I should probably go back and check on them. I guess I’ll see you at work?”

"See you there." They smiled warily at each other before parting ways in opposite directions. Max felt something deflating in his chest with each step back to the broom closet, where he apparated away.

ooc: end rp!