Past Meets Present [Eden/Michael]

[Rowena Jones]

Rowena left the building in a hurry, angrily brushing away tears. Nothing! Again. Why was this so difficult?! Why was she so emotional about it? For a second she wished Max was there, as he had once promised to be when she'd first mentioned digging up information on her birth parents. But then she remembered the fight, and the ensuing silence. It had been a little under three days, and she'd heard nothing from him. Granted she had stormed out, but he'd said he loved her and then done nothing. He hadn't even tried to fix things. What did that mean?

She walked into a cafe and sat by the window, putting her head in her hands as she sought to control her confusion. Were they still together? Or had her storming out been the end of their relationship? Did she want it to be? She looked up as the waiter asked for her order, choosing to instead stare out through the glass at the people passing by. The pale October sun shone dimly through the clouds and people hurried along the streets, the winter wear already beginning to appear. Thick coats and jumpers mingled with smart business suits. She envied these people, blissfully unaware of a whole other world right next to them.

And then suddenly a newly familiar face appeared on the other side of the glass and Rowena started. What was Michael doing in Muggle London?! He gestured as if to ask her if he could join her and she nodded slowly. Was it really coincidence that he'd found her? It seemed strange. And then she halted that train of thought, hating herself for it. Since when had she grown so suspicious, so distrusting? This evil darkness would not change her so much. She refused to let it.

"What are you doing here?" she asked instead, giving Michael the benefit of the doubt as he sat opposite her ordering his own mug of coffee.

[Rowena Jones]

Michael had just finished up a briefing with his client when he saw a familiar and upset looking face dash past his office. He quickly informed his assistant that he was taking his lunch break, grabbed his coat and headed out, scanning the area for that wild mane of dark hair. He saw it just as it disappeared into a small coffee shop and followed. Rowena Covington seemed to be upset both times he had seen her now and he was determined to fix it.

He met her amber gaze through the window and grinned, meeting her puzzled glance with a shrug. Michael quickly entered the warmth of the cafe and made his way to the small table Rowena had chosen.

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I work in that office sometimes," he said pointing to the building she'd just left. At her puzzled look he clarified, "I'm a Genealogy Specialist? I track down people's families, help children find their birth parents, clarify any possible conflicts in Inheritance... it's sort of a mixed bag."

He took a sip of his coffee, wincing at the heat before continuing. "I saw you in the corridor and couldn't believe it. What were you looking for? Anything I can help you with?"

[Rowena Jones]

"Oh, I work in that office sometimes," he said pointing to the building she'd just left. At her puzzled look he clarified, "I'm a Genealogy Specialist? I track down people's families, help children find their birth parents, clarify any possible conflicts in Inheritance... it's sort of a mixed bag. I saw you in the corridor and couldn't believe it. What were you looking for? Anything I can help you with?"

Rowena was looking at Michael with her mouth open, her cup of tea hanging dangerously loosely from her fingers. "Are you joking? You can't be serious..." she said in disbelief. After the frustration of so many dead ends, how was it possible that this man had fallen back into her life at the perfect moment. just when she needed it?

She scooted her chair forward, putting her cup down and leaning forward. "It's just that, I'm looking for my birth parents. Things happened recently, and it seems like something I need to know. But I've found nothing so far. It seems like they really didn't want to be found..." she trailed off sadly.

It was strange. Before all this stuff had started happening to her, she hadn't given her birth parents a second thought, but now, with all that had occurred, not knowing her full past seemed like the worst possible thing. There were answers to be found and they felt so out of reach. Was Michael really going to be able to change that?

"But why are you working in a Muggle office?"

[Rowena Jones]

Michael grinned teasingly as he too leaned forward to ensure a more private conversation. It would hardly do for a Muggle to overhear them talking about Witches and Wizards..

"Oh come on Rowie," he said falling back to using his childhood nickname for her, "use that wonderfully talented brain of yours. Muggles are just as much a part of our family histories as Witches or Wizards. Even all those fancy Purebloods have several family branches filled with Muggle ancestry. After all, it only takes a Squib marrying a Muggle and suddenly, we don't consider that line to be Magical anymore. I wouldn't be good at my job if I didn't explore every avenue and just so you know... I'm excellent at what I do."

He leaned back so the waiter could place their scones on the table between them, cutting one open and slavering it in cream and jam before passing it to Rowena. "What do you parents think about you looking for your birth family? Have they been able to give you any information?"

[Eden Fletcher]

It had been three days since the end of the world. Eden should have been celebrating the fact that Rowax was no more. She should have been happy that her best friend was not dating her childhood enemy. The victory was bittersweet. Max was a complete and total wreck. Their apartment was more cave than home at the moment. Max hadn't been like this in years. Actually not ever. This was different than his previous disastrous breakups. Even though Eden was loath to admit it and wouldn't even under torture Rowena was actually good for Max. She made him happy. Which was very strange to Eden considering that months before she was the bane of his existence but to each their own. After three days of watching Max call Rowena and get no response Eden was pissed. So when she saw the woman looking bright eyed and chipper with a strange man Eden saw red. How dare she look so happy when Max was devastated?

Eden had been walking by the coffee shop when she spotted Rowena through the large window smiling at another man. Rowena looked happy and healthy. But that was about to change. Eden entered the shop pausing for a moment before she did something drastic like order a ice coffee and pour it over Rowena's head. Maybe something frothy with whipped cream. That would ruin the date for sure.

Eden controlled her temper enough to resist the dramatic entrance. Instead she waited in line to order food all the while Eden glared at Rowena and the man across from her. He looked too slick for Eden's taste. Too perfect and utterly right for Rowena. Eden should just leave her too it. After all Eden didn't want Max and Rowena getting back together did she? Either way Max needed revenge.

Eden ordered a fancy little cake and had the bakery assistant write traitorous bitch on it. Eden refused the box and carried it on a plate to Rowena.

"Since you look so happy after the break up with the love of your life I thought you might want cake to celebrate," Eden said placing the cake on the table in front of Rowena. Eden backed away a few steps before the urge to smash Rowena's face in was too much to resist.

"I'd be careful she's a man eater that one," Eden said to Michael before turning to walk away.

[Rowena Jones]

"Oh come on Rowie," he said falling back to using his childhood nickname for her, "use that wonderfully talented brain of yours. Muggles are just as much a part of our family histories as Witches or Wizards. Even all those fancy Purebloods have several family branches filled with Muggle ancestry. After all, it only takes a Squib marrying a Muggle and suddenly, we don't consider that line to be Magical anymore. I wouldn't be good at my job if I didn't explore every avenue and just so you know... I'm excellent at what I do."

He leaned back so the waiter could place their scones on the table between them, cutting one open and slavering it in cream and jam before passing it to Rowena. "What do you parents think about you looking for your birth family? Have they been able to give you any information?"

Rowena's face fell at the mention of her parents. Shit. She hadn't told him yet. She put down her uneaten treat and looked at Michael seriously. "Michael... I have to tell you something. My parents... they're both gone. It's just me now." She was going to say more when an unwanted but familiar woman marched over to their table .

"Since you look so happy after the break up with the love of your life I thought you might want cake to celebrate," Eden said placing the cake on the table in front of her. Rowena stared blankly at it, her brain not quite up to speed with the events that were suddenly occurring. 

"I'd be careful she's a man eater that one," Eden said to Michael before turning to walk away.

THAT. WAS. IT. Rowena stood with a snarl. How fucking dare she. Happy?! She the man eater?! She'd been crying herself to sleep the past few days, her bed too big and empty without Max's body curled next to hers. She continually caught herself just staring blankly into nothing as the realisation of what had happened hit her again and again like a punch to the chest and it felt like she couldn't breathe. How dare Eden insert herself, insinuate that Rowena was the one to have hurt Max!

She saw red and before she could help herself, Rowena had grabbed the offending cake, and flung it in Eden's direction, spitting her reply.

"You haven't a fucking clue you poisonous bunch-backed toad!! How about instead of putting your nose where it doesn't belong you tell that complete wanker you call your best friend that lying is not the way to get a woman back and that there is such thing as a goddamn phone! But I am so sorry that my attempt to piece my life back together is offending to your Majesty, that I should have one friend to look out for me after that moronic arsehole hurt me. Anyway, why are you complaining?! Now you get him back all to yourself! I'm sure this week is the best week of your life!"

[Eden Fletcher]

Being pettily evil felt far too good. Eden bit her lip to keep her grin to herself as she turned her back on Rowena. She didn’t need empathy to know the control freak would be livid. She’d blow a gasket even if the cake didn’t have a snarky phrase on it. Eden could feel the daggers being thrown at her back.

Eden had taken only a few steps when something soft mushy hit her on her upper back. Eden froze. The bloody bitch threw the damn cake at her. A part of Eden saw red and another admired her aim. Honestly she didn’t think Rowena Convington had it in her. Eden turned slowly shaking the cake off like a dog. A part of her thought of picking up a large chunk off the floor and throwing it back at her but she didn’t want to stoop to her level. Eden raised an eyebrow at Rowena as she ranted like a crazy woman. The tartness of her face would sour grapes. She really should give up healing and open a vineyard. She’d make a fortune without lifting a finger.
"You haven't a fucking clue you poisonous bunch-backed toad!! How about instead of putting your nose where it doesn't belong you tell that complete wanker you call your best friend that lying is not the way to get a woman back and that there is such thing as a goddamn phone! But I am so sorry that my attempt to piece my life back together is offending to your Majesty, that I should have one friend to look out for me after that moronic arsehole hurt me. Anyway, why are you complaining?! Now you get him back all to yourself! I'm sure this week is the best week of your life!"

The best week of your life comment stung. It was true. A part of her was very glad to have her friend back. But she wanted happy Max. Not stuck in bed depressed Max.

“You’d like to paint me the evil gleeful witch wouldn’t you? Fine Oh Rowena thank you for digging out your wicked claws. I am ever so grateful for the husk of a man you left behind. I truly enjoy being smothered by a blanket of depression. I am dancing in the hallway as I make sure he drinks more than whiskey. I am doing somersaults as I make sure his bandages are clean. I am laughing with joy as he drunk calls you. I truly should thank you for ripping out his heart because he didn’t tell you about his past relationships. That he kept things from you to protect you. Wait, no that lie of omission was you and you nearly destroyed a village. Yes Rowena this has been the best damn week ever,” Eden said sarcastically.
“You’re an idiot. For some reason you two worked. I don’t know why. But he was better off with you than he is without you,” Eden said her voice actually sad and more than a bit baffled.

[Rowena Jones]

“You’d like to paint me the evil gleeful witch wouldn’t you? Fine Oh Rowena thank you for digging out your wicked claws. I am ever so grateful for the husk of a man you left behind. I truly enjoy being smothered by a blanket of depression. I am dancing in the hallway as I make sure he drinks more than whiskey. I am doing somersaults as I make sure his bandages are clean. I am laughing with joy as he drunk calls you. I truly should thank you for ripping out his heart because he didn’t tell you about his past relationships. That he kept things from you to protect you. Wait, no that lie of omission was you and you nearly destroyed a village. Yes Rowena this has been the best damn week ever,” Eden said sarcastically.

If she was thinking more clearly, maybe Rowena would have stopped and truly listened but her heart was aching and her hearing selective. "Protect me?! Yeah I can see that what with him blurting my secrets out! I kept yours by the way for the record." she said, referring to their random meeting that one day in Hogsmeade where she'd found Eden in the midst of a vision and looking quite honestly like shit. If Max knew now the toll his best friends powers were having on her, then fine, but the point was that Rowena hadn't been the one to spill the secret. "I'd say you look better but interfering, spiteful Harpy isn't a good look on you."

“You’re an idiot. For some reason you two worked. I don’t know why. But he was better off with you than he is without you,” Eden said her voice actually sad and more than a bit baffled.

"Oh, I didn’t realize you were an expert on my life. Please, continue while I take notes." Rowena spat sarcastically. "It just can't occur to you that he's the one who fucked up and not me. Perfect Max Kameren just can't be bloody wrong!" She sagged, the fight leaving her as memories filled her mind. She missed him. The last few days had been hell but she didn't feel like she was in the wrong here. She'd had a valid point in that he had decided too much for her, and that he'd told Eden about that night she'd almost died... well that just proved it. What Max deigned important to share he did, regardless of who it actually affected or whose secrets they were to share.  Besides, Rowena had had no indication that Max cared, certainly nothing like what Eden was saying. 

There was a loud cough and Rowena glanced towards the cafe counter and flushed. In her anger she'd forgotten where they were, but now she was faced with a furious coffee shop owner and several wide eyed faces. Fuck! Even out of her life, Max was still ruining what could have finally been an ok morning.