Who: Emma Dobbs When: Saturday Night Where: Copenhagen, Denmark What: Internal Reflections Status: Narrative Rating: M for Mopey
Emma had woken early Saturday morning, gave directions to Mrs. Fields and Butterton to close the house. Both had looked at her with genuine concern, even the stoic Butterton had looked ready to delve into her personal affairs. However, Emma remained firm and they complied with her wishes. She took her house off the Floo network, took down her wards and packed several suitcases to prepare for her trip. A quick stop for breakfast with Penny and Oscar and Emma was on her way. She had an one pm flight out of Heathrow. As she waited in the First Class club, Emma's thoughts began to drift to the argument last night and she tried to push away the hurt and pain that followed. A lone tear slipped down her cheek and she quickly brushed it aside. There was a pain in her heart that she couldn't quite contain. Adrian's opinion of her and who he thought she was… it was a dagger to the heart.
She had admitted a touch of jealousy towards the relationship between Lexi and Adrian. She hadn't met it with any malice. It was a jealousy more of the stability Lexi had in her friendships. Emma had been alone most of her life. She'd left her family at age six to live with ancient, magical Aunt. There had been little love and little companionship in that home. Her life at Hogwarts hadn't been picturesque. She'd made few friends and had suffered at the hands of her housemates. The death of her father when she was fourteen had been heartbreaking and three years later, her sister and brother-in-law had been killed in an auto accident. Her mother had been unable to handle the pressures of life and had left her behind. Alone. She'd gone to a nunnery and vowed silence.
It was no wonder she felt as though she were an outsider and perhaps she was angry at that. She had let Adrian in. No questions asked. She'd supported him, given him sanctuary when he'd needed it the most. He'd come to her to find solace and she had demanded nothing in return. She didn't ask for promises or rings or even affection.
Rubbing her forehead wearily, Emma felt the heavy weight of her mistakes pressing on her. She hadn't asked him to not be there for his friends. She would never ask that of him. She would never expect it of him. Emma was not that girl. Nor did she intend to ever be. Perhaps she'd just wanted him on her side for once. She'd just wanted him to realize that Clint and Lexi were capable of fixing their own problems. He didn't have to rescue them every time. Or maybe she really was a horrible, jealous bitch. Either way, it mattered little now.
When someone's true opinion comes through, there is no hiding from that. None. Tracing the pattern on her skirt, she let her hand drift to her stomach, idly playing with the fabric. Her flight was called and with preferential boarding, Emma sat in her first class accommodations, and settled in for her flight.
Two hours later, Emma woke with a start, feeling groggy and slightly sick to her stomach. The nausea that'd been present the past few weeks hadn't seemed to settle and Emma wasn't quite ready to deal with what she expected. Not now. Not when she was alone. Again. The voice of the flight attendant came over the speakers of the British Airways but Emma didn't pay attention. She visited Copenhagen every year. One of her favorite muggle cousins had married a Reventlow and had taken her place as his wife in the Danish aristocracy.
Jane wouldn't mind her visit. She was expecting her first child any day and Emma had promised to be there when he or she was born. They'd made plans to meet for breakfast tomorrow and Emma had chosen to stay at her family's penthouse near the palace. It was empty as her cousin was in England but she knew he wouldn't mind. He never did when it came to Emma.
Of course, once the silence of the flat settled over her, she couldn't shut out the emotions. Her breathing became slightly erratic and she couldn't seem to stop trembling. Grabbing her coat, Emma hurried outside, stepping into the night air, the cold, damp of Copenhagen hitting her like a refreshing splash of water.
Now that she was here, she could see how her actions might have been a little extreme. Sighing, Emma headed toward the city centre, a little hungry and very tired. She would take a brief audience with the royal family on Monday to announce her arrival and would then spend the rest of her time with Jane. As she strolled, she took in the bright lights of the city, feeling oddly comfortable here. It had always felt a second home but she'd never considered leaving England and that was because of her nephew and her magical life.
"Perhaps I made the wrong choice," she murmured, pausing to stare out over the water. Muggle life had it's appeal. She could leave magic behind. Maybe. It took her a few moments to realize someone was talking to her and Emma turned, a handsome young man giving her a charming smile and complimenting her beauty.
In perfect Danish, Emma gently thanked him but easily displayed her disinterest. He eventually gave up and moved on. Her small hands found her flat stomach, resting gently over her suspicions. No one would ever replace Adrian Pucey. In two months, he'd come to mean more to her than anyone had. He'd become her family and she'd let it all slip away because she was a jealous, callous woman. Her heart sank, the nausea settling over her once more, only this time it was from her actions. The tears came in earnest and Emma felt the cold wind biting against the damp of her cheeks.
"Oh Ade..." she murmured, straightening her coat. "What have I done?" The only answer she received was the sound of an ambulance and a blaring horn as it rushed through the city.