Perfect weather for a day off! Date & Time: 24 October 2002 | early afternoon Post Type: RP Status: Closed: Complete Character(s): Liliana Moon, Samuel Moon Location: High Street Flats #35 Summary: Liliana decides to cook up dinner for once, and receives a pleasant surprise.
The case she was supposed to reside over today had been resolved yesterday, much earlier than anticipated, and Liliana couldn't help but wake with a pleasant smile. She had a whole day off! Ignoring the books and papers sprawled over her desk, she climbed out of bed in her pajamas and quickly changed, eager to enjoy the sun and weather.
---
Liliana enjoyed most of her day, going for her usual morning run and then getting in a little flying time before going to the grocer. Her discussion with Dean a few days back made her eager to cook something up. By 4, she was eagerly chopping up bell peppers as the skillet hissed at her. She was about to move on to an onion when she heard something in the lounge.
"Keeg! Keeg you better not be at work again!" Her father quickly found her in the kitchen, grinning broadly at her and wrapping her in a warm hug. "How's my little angel?"
"Dad!" she grinned when she first heard his voice, turning down the hob right quick to make sure nothing would burn. Then she wrapped her arms around him for a long moment. She was still a few inches shorter than him in flats, which only made the hug more supportive. He still smelled of vanilla tobacco, like he'd always rolled into his own cigars. She paused for a moment, closing her eyes and enjoying his hug. "How've you been?" she asked as she finally pulled away.
Samuel handed her a bouquet of lilacs, her favourite of course. "I've been fine, Keeg. Missing you something terrible though, I'm afraid." He looked towards the stove top. "Smells just like your mother's cooking." He offered her a nostalgic smile. There was more ruckus in the other room and Liliana raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I hope you don't mind. I got your owl, and decided since you'd probably not make it out to us, I'd bring Basil and the girls to you!"
Liliana simply wasn't capable of being angry at her Da. Not at this point. She grinned, "Thanks." He must've realized how lonely she was from her owl. He always knew. She hurried out and embraced her Uncle Basil. He was really her mother's brother, but he and her da were only months apart and they'd bonded one summer when Sam had gone home with Aislinn to help her family adjust to her magic. "How are you?" she smiled warmly before looking over at her two cousins. They looked so much older than when she'd last seen them. It'd been four years though...
Giving Claire a hug first, she tried not to look too long at her. Claire had the same curly red hair that Liliana's mum had had. Then she hugged Samantha, who seemed to be looking for something. Samantha finally raised an eyebrow, "No telly?"
She shook her head, "Sorry." Liliana had almost add there were no muggles living around, but she instead supplied, "I'm too busy with work anyway." At this point, Liliana turned to her father again, taking the flowers from him and heading back to the kitchen. "You've no idea how lucky you are. I bought plenty to feed us all." She'd been intending on eating the leftovers for the weekend but this was a far better plan. Placing the lilacs in a vase, she passed them to Claire to put on the table.
Claire was a mid-wife who'd finished training not all that long ago either. It'd been nice to have her up North for a while, but she'd since moved back to Canterbury. Sensing her sister and father's uneasiness, she grinned, "Without a telly I think they'll be awfully bored. I was going to take them for a walk through Hogsmeade while you and Uncle Sam catch up."
Liliana squeezed her cousin's hand in appreciation, "By all means. Don't let them get themselves into any trouble though." Basil was quite accustomed to all things magical, being married to a witch and having one for a daughter. Samantha, however, had rather avoided it. Since she couldn't live in that world, she tried to pretend it didn't exist it seemed. Liliana didn't think it her place to comment on that matter.
When the three had left, she turned to her father again, "They look good." Her face glowed, showing her delight at their visit. "Now how about you? You've been taking care of yourself I hope?" The one downside to her being away from her dad was that she couldn't keep as close an eye on him.
Samuel nodded, "You sound so much like your mother." His eyes studied her for a long moment. "I'm a grown man, I can look after myself." He looked back towards the floo, "Though I worry about your cousin Sam, she's quit her job again."
Liliana shrugged, "She's the odd one out as a muggle. I mean, sure Basil's a muggle but he's very familiar with everything in our world. Mum and Aunt Alana made sure of that. Hell, he married one of Alana's best friends from Hogwarts." She grinned at the thought. Violet an Basil were so cute together. "Samantha can't possibly feel like she fits in." Liliana would've worried about Samantha too if she were her daughter. Merlin, that was a scary enough thought to make her change the subject. "So are you going to help me with all this or am I just a free meal for the lot of you?" Liliana gave a good-natured grin and handed her dad her chef's knife.
---
Working in the kitchen with her dad had been soothing. Dinner had been great. Pork tenderloin with herb potatoes and beets. Even Samantha had cheered up after a glass of wine. It'd been good to see family, and even Basil seemed impressed by her work.
Claire had divulged she'd gotten engaged last month, to a beater for the Kenmare Kestrels. That news had hit Liliana a bit hard. Claire wasn't that much older than she, and engaged. Liliana had only been on a handful of dates since the Yule Ball. After completing Hogwarts she'd start to realize just how much she must be missing. Everyone she knew had experienced more than she had, and it was frustrating. Liliana hadn't allowed it to spoil the moment though. She was genuinely happy for her cousin.
After dinner, everyone but her father had left. Samuel had made a point to stay behind. When she'd finally finished all the dishes, she turned off the tap. "What's on your mind then?" She walked out to the lounge, settling down next to him on the couch.
Her dad looked over to her, studied her face. She was definitely a grown woman now, but that didn't stop him from seeing the little girl that cried when she'd skinned her knee. Or when one of the quidditch players had taken her up to high on their broom, he thought with a smile. "I'm worried about you, after what happened to those Aurors."
Liliana pursed her lips and shook her head. "Don't worry, Da." She took a moment to carefully consider her thoughts. "They don't even know if it's anything sinister. And there's certainly nothing to suggest that I'm in any danger." She hoped it would comfort him, but it wasn't enough to comfort her. She tried to ease her own worries by pointing out that after she'd been attacked in 1996, she'd done all she could to become proficient in defense spells. Then again, if it was food poisoning like some had whispered, she had no weapon against that. Except for nights like this. Cooking her own dinner, with family, and wine. She set her wine glass down and looked over at him, "I've yet to terrorize some poor bloke in to marrying me, don't worry. I've got far too much to do to go out just yet."
Samuel gave her a long look, "I know. I'm beginning to worry I won't be able to walk by the time I'm supposed to walk you down the aisle." He put his arm around her, gripping her shoulder in a minute to show he hadn't meant it personally. Liliana gave him a sideways hug before laying her on his shoulder as he shared his newest quidditch stories.