Who: Meaghan McCormack and Barry Ryan. Guest starring Aislin Ryan. What: Prompt Challenge - Red Where: Meaghan’s home, Isle of Skye, Scotland When: July 2001. Rating: Low. There are CHILDREN. Status: Logged, Complete
Barry was one who had always enjoyed having a boys’ night. Granted that he was a single father and the occasions where he could do just that were few and far between. Thankfully, whenever he did, he always had someone to watch his little girl. And besides, he trusted Meaghan immensely and it wasn’t just for the sheer fact that she was Kirley’s little sister. She was a fellow keeper and well, it helped that Aislin adored her as well, so how could he say no?
And so, he left the three year old with her as he enjoyed a night with Kirley. It wasn’t a roaring night of drunken debauchery since Barry rarely drunk, but he did indulge every now and again. So, that’s how the night had progressed. He didn’t allow himself to get drunk, but rather a little bit tipsy over the course of the evening. And yet, he needed to pick up his daughter. He did hope Aislin behaved for Meaghan and that she was asleep by now. Then again, maybe he kind of wanted to hang out with Meaghan too, that is if the circumstances were right.
So, with that in mind, he headed over to Meaghan’s place and rapped on the door. Now, all he had to do was wait for the door to open.
Meaghan always loved watching Aislin. She was the closest thing to a niece that she had, after all, and with Barry and Kirley being as close as they were, it gave Meaghan plenty of opportunity to spend time with the little girl. When Barry had first dropped Aislin, the girl had been wearing a red dress and ruby slippers, so Meaghan had done the most obvious thing- changed to match her.
They had spent the evening at home, playing tea parties and pretend games, making dinner together until, finally, Aislin had fallen asleep on the sofa downstairs. Since she wasn't entirely certain when Barry would be getting back, Meaghan had carried Aislin up to the loft bedroom, tucking the girl in under the voluminous down comforter. Once she was sure that Aislin would stay asleep, Meaghan had returned downstairs to make herself some tea and settle in with a book to wait for Barry.
The knock on the door came much later- Meaghan was almost done with her book, but she set it aside and padded quietly across to the front door. She opened it a crack, just to be sure it was Barry, then opened it fully and gave him room to come inside. "Evening," Meaghan offered a smile. Then, since it would likely be his first question anyway, "She's asleep upstairs."
The first thing that Barry happened to notice when he entered the flat was that Meaghan’s outfit had changed. It was much, well, redder for that matter and entirely different from her initial one. Which made him wonder what went on while he was gone, but really red suited her. And if you wanted Barry to be completely honest, she looked quite pretty in the dress, but he held his tongue in regards to it.
“Hey,” Barry said after a moment of silence has passed, nodding when Meaghan said that Aislin was upstairs asleep. “It looks like the two of you had fun.” He left it at that for now. Then again, he was innately curious as to what the both of them had done throughout the evening.
"We did," Meaghan agreed. "We had a tea party- red dresses and red raspberry tea. I may have let her wear a bit of red lipstick, too, but I promise it's all washed off now." It was probably silly, especially considering how young Aislin was, but the little girl had seemed to enjoy it. "Did you- were you wanting to just head off, or- I can make us some tea, maybe?" Though he appeared sober enough, she thought it was probably best to ask, just in case.
"I'm sure she looked gorgeous in it. But I am glad that the both of you had a good time." Part of him wished that he could see the mental image of how Aislin looked. Though he was glad his daughter had a good time and all that. "Tea would actually be brill, actually, I was kind of hoping we could chat and hang out a bit before I took Aislin home." Then again, who was he to say no to such an invite?
"Then tea it shall be!" Meaghan brightened, reaching for Barry's hand and practically dragged him along behind her as she crossed to the kitchen at the other end of the ground floor. The house's open plan meant there weren't specifically walls between the rooms, just various bits of furniture that designated different areas, and the countertops that closed in the kitchen.
Releasing Barry's hand once they reached the kitchen, Meaghan tapped the kettle on the stove with her wand and a charm to set it to heat up as she went to find mugs for them both. "How was Kirley?" she added, belatedly. "Here I am, jabbering on about Aislin, and I didn't even think to ask after you and my brother!"
"Excellent," was all Barry could say before he was drug throughout the house to where the kitchen was. He didn't really care though. It was nice to explore the lay of the house and see how it went. Then again, Barry was fond of the fact that her house used to be a former church. It made it very eclectic if you asked him and he liked the character of it all. "Kirley was great. Went to a few pubs and had some drinks. He's been goading me as to why I haven't found a girlfriend. The right one just hasn't come along, that's all." It was really and honestly the truth. Besides, he wanted someone who could be Aislin's mum and adore her when he looked for a girlfriend, so he was very picky.
Meaghan rolled her eyes at Barry's mention of Kirley's would-be matchmaking. "If it makes you feel any better, he does the same thing to me. Never used to, but ever since he's been with Gwenog, it seems like he's dead set on making sure everyone else shacks up, too." It was a bit ridiculous, really, but then- that was Kirley.
Barry was kind of used to it, but really it did get annoying at times. “Well, maybe he just wants to share the happiness?” Barry said with a shrug of his shoulders. “But he knows why I don’t date. Besides, I want to spend my time raising my daughter. Dating is the least of my concerns.” Though he knew there was a perfect guy out there for Meaghan. Somewhere. But he wasn’t going to broach the topic.
"No, that's- you've got your priorities right," Meaghan agreed, quickly. Behind her, the kettle whistled, and she turned the heat off and set about preparing their tea mugs and letting the drinks steep for a moment. Having grown up with a parent who was far too involved with her own career to pay attention to her children, Meaghan genuinely admired Barry's dedication to parenting.
The tea done, Meaghan handed Barry his mug. There were small dishes of sugar and milk on the countertop, if he needed them. "She- Aislin, I mean- she'll remember that, when she's older."
“Yeah, I mean the right person will come along sooner or later,” he reiterated, keeping it at that. Sure, he was going to add more but the kettle went off. Nicole had messed him over way too well and he wasn’t going to risk his heart getting hurt again. And with the tea mug on the table, he started to prepare it to his liking. “I’m certain that she will. Then again, I’m certain that she will also remember and enjoy all the time she spent with you.” He knew that he did.
Meaghan prepared her tea, as well- a scoop of sugar and just a dash of milk- but held the mug between her hands, enjoying the warmth for a moment more before taking a sip. "She's a lucky girl," Meaghan offered, with a smile over the edge of the mug to Barry. "She's got a brilliant da and a lot of pseudo aunts and uncles who care for her very much."
Barry was a bit amused that Meaghan prepared her tea almost the same way he did. Although he had a little bit more milk in his and he focused on drinking the tea. “She is. I don’t know how I got fortunate enough to have her for a daughter,” he admitted, humbly. But yet he couldn’t help but not stare and smile at Meaghan. “Then again, she’s lucky that you care for her so very much. As well as the rest of her pseudo-family.”
"Of course we do," she replied, as if it were obvious- why wouldn't they care for Aislin? She knew bits and pieces of the story, there, as to how Aislin had come about- but Meaghan never wanted to pry, knowing full well how hurtful that could be, even under the guise of curiosity or caring.
Meaghan must not have realized that Barry was staring- or, if anything, just thought that he was being particularly attentive to their conversation, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. And where others might have said it was strange to see Barry- tall, fit, masculine Barry- drinking tea and talking about his feelings, well, Meaghan actually found it rather endearing.
Barry wouldn’t mind telling Meaghan the story of how Aislin came to be, but still it was hard for him to work through. Even after several years. “And I care about the lot of you too,” he told her. It really was the truth. Especially with her. Not that he’d admit it if you wanted him to be completely honest. Instead, he tried to distract himself by working on his tea. But he decided to segue things a bit. “So, anything exciting coming up?”
With a wave of her hand, Meaghan led Barry back toward the living room, where she curled up in the corner of the L-shaped sofa, tucking her legs to the side and nodding for him to join her. If they were going to chat, well, they might as well be comfortable. "I- I don't think so?" She felt strange saying that- as if there should be some grand event planned that she was working toward, but- really, aside from quidditch, Meaghan led a relatively quiet life.
Barry followed without any hesitation, sitting with Meaghan on the sofa. This felt comfortable to him. He wished there could be more evenings like that. “Well, maybe we could rectify that,” he suggested to her, “like maybe something small. I...well, I mean, we could always hang out some more. Or what have you,” he suggested. He would’ve suggested a small get together but that felt awkward.
"I'd like that," Meaghan nodded, taking a sip of her tea as she considered the offer. "It seems like most of the time that I spend with Aislin is when you're off having fun with Kirley. It'd be nice to have fun together, the lot of us."
“Great, then it’s a date, erm plan,” he corrected himself. “Maybe just the three of us? Or if you want Gwenog and Kirley to join in the fun, that may be good too. But it’s totally up to you,” he was clearly rambling over it. Then again, it was just going to be casual hanging out and that was always fun.
"Just the three of us would be fun, yes," Meaghan agreed. Probably easier to coordinate, too, since Kirley's schedule was always a bit of a mess- and understandably so.
“Well, then it’s settled,” Barry said, leaving it at that for a moment or so. “I guess the only thing to decide is when we should do just that. Maybe this weekend or next? Whatever works for you.” Barry was fine with whatever Meaghan had in mind.
"I'll let you know," she offered with another smile. Her quidditch schedule varied- he would understand that, she hoped- so it might take a bit of maneuvering to find the right time. Having finished her tea, Meaghan set the mug aside on a nearby end table. "Well- should I go get Aislin?"
"That sounds perfect," Barry knew his schedule varied as well. But that was how Quidditch went. He was just looking forward to it, whenever it happened. "Why don't you? And Meaghan, thanks again."</a>