A man unwilling to fight for what he wants gets what he deserves

Aimee was in some sort of trouble back home?  My concern sky rocketed for her.  "Not from around here," I answered evasively.  I took a sip of coffee.  I really hoped that it would not seem like a stranger prying -- though I had a feeling she knew exactly who I was -- to ask what was going on.  "Why would anyone want to be after you?  You seem pretty innocent," I said to her with a smile.  Merlin... it seemed like such a long time since I smiled genuinely like this.  Of course I smiled when around other people... but nto because it felt right or anything, just because it was socially fit.  I was just sort of waiting to see if she would call me out on my bullshit.  I had not changed that much... I might look older and more mature... I knew the stress was probably showing on my face, but it was still the same old face no matter how much I tried to disguise myself.

I laughed, " Of course I do..." I shrugged, " I am a quiet one until backed into a corner. " I said with a smile as I put some hair behind my ear. " You know, the usual story....quiet one does work...signs things...life in danger...usual." I said as if it were a regular day thing. " Some people didn't like what I did." I explained as I took a sip.

"Just because they don't like your work doesn't mean that they should be after you," I said, drinking some more of my addiction.  I hated how easy it was to just talk to her... it should be difficult.  It needed to be difficult.  That way I would be more guarded and I would not say something stupid.  "What is it that you're into anyways?"

I laughed, " You're right it doesn't mean they should be after me.." I said in agreement. " With my job though I am useful apparently and I am not going to be used for information..." I said as I took some more, " this is good by the way." I said as I went on, " I am apart of wizards and witches protection.." I said as if I gave him a hint I know who he is so he might as well come clean. " You know, there was this guy that I had to open his case....I marked him as passed on." I told him as if he needed to know as far as the ministry in England is concerned he is gone.

I smiled at her.  "It's the best," I agreed.  I could not believe that she had mentioned being a witch... we were not in an entirely wizarding community.  I guess she was probably trying to get me to say things about myself.  I just did not want to say that I was a dead man walking. "At least you are protected," I said, glad that she had someone looking out for her the way that I wished I could.

I nearly burst into laughter, " I wouldn't call what I had protection..." I said with a light shove to him. " It was hardly something like that at all. I was seen as a threat because I was good at my other job then they sent me here....to as they put it...keep me safe...it's a load of hippogriff dung if you ask me..." I said as I finished my rant. To the look on his face I replied, " I know it's you.." I said quietly. Why else would I just rave about being a witch...and having well magic problems. " Fudge has seen me as a problem so he strongly recommended me for the job and some reason he has all the pull so now I am here.." I pulled my hair into a ponytail. " It was after I had been caught for some questioning.." I said to him almost at a whisper.

I could not help but smile while she vented.  This was the fiery Aimee that always amused me.  I had to try to keep the smiling to a minimum because when someone vented they tended to not think it funny.  When she said she knew who I was, my smile faded quickly from my face.  I shook my head.  "Aimee, this was a mistake.  I'm sorry," I said, standing up and grabbing my cloak.  "I can't do this.  You can't do this.  This never happened.  You need to protect yourself and talking to me isn't going to do that."  I was speaking barely above a whisper.  I felt horrible.  I was indulging myself rather than thinking about what was best for Aimee.  And it sure as hell was not me.  I knew she went through a lot when I went missing and was pronounced dead rather than MIA.  But this could not happen... how would she be safe if we continued catching up?  It was best that she knew as little as possible.

I grabbed his arm and pulled him into me, " Why don't you let me decide what is best for me?" I told him. " You know that nothing like that is going to stop me...and yeah I know you want me to be safe. Ignoring me isn't going to be best....for either of us." I said as I made him look at me. " Come for a walk?" I asked him. I didn't care that he had some past problems, the same people that thought he was dead...thought I was dead because they weren't supposed to find me. " We can have time....better yet make time." I said to him. He should know I am a stubborn woman.

She was definitely stubborn.  I just was used to seeing the people I cared about under a disguise of Reese Williams from the Order of the Phoenix.  I smiled a little bit and took a deep breath to calm myself.  I nodded.  "I know better than to argue with you... so a walk it is," I said to her.

I took his hand and led the way. " I'm glad you see it my way..." I said with smirk. " You know, i knew it was you." I said pointing it out to him. " So, how come you walked into me at my car if you didn't see me?" I asked. I mean it happens when people don't pay attention. " Temporary loss of thoughts?" I asked him as I smiled. Turning to him, " You know when I thought you were dead......it was tough..." I said to him as I looked ahead of us. " It was hard to know that I had to do this on my own....without you..."

I nodded.  "My mind was elsewhere I suppose," I said, agreeing with her.  I normally did not run into people.  The way she spoke then afterwards tore me up inside.  I still did not think I could tell her everything that happened that night I disappeared.  "I wasn't supposed to make it out of there alive," I told her quietly, figuring that I could be as honest as I could with her.  "And since I did, I had to leave.  I had to protect all of you... they would have killed everyone I cared about if they knew I survived.  As hard as it was leaving, I couldn't bear the idea of any of you paying for what I did.  I didn't want any of you to pay the ultimate sacrifice when it should have been me."  I sighed, realizing I had not spoken of that night for a couple of years.  It was amazing how it all still affected me.  "I tried to keep tabs on everyone the best I could... I even started a branch of hte Order here in the States with my fake ID of Reese Williams... naturally I had polyjuice potion for whenever I had to travel to Europe.  It was risky, but I had to try to make contact with people the best I could... even though I was lying the whole time."  I wanted to tell her that she would nto have to face anything alone anymore... but that was just me dreaming.  Or was it?  Could I actually be truly happy after everything that had happened?

I nodded slowly understanding why he had to do it. Well not completely, but I did understand the feeling of the need to protect people. " It got a lot worse after you died..." I said. I wasn't sure if I should tell him, he was my one and only. I didn't date. When he died it was hard for me to pick myself back up when I had to write down that he was deceased I didn't want to believe it. The scenarios I had dreamed up scared me. I had a really hard year, with drinking. I have been sober for a while now. " I had a bt of problems when you were gone.." I said. I wanted him to know but I also didn't want him to be ashamed of me. " I got into a lot of firewhiskey...." I explained hoping he knew what I meant. " After you left...it was only a matter of time before James and Lily were killed. Harry was taken to safety. I lost almost everyone. Then Sirius going Azkaban for their murder. I knew he wouldn't be able to do anything like that." I yammered.

Smiling, " Polyjuice potion...I should have known...." I said as I knew he would have figured something out to do.

I put my arm aroudn her as we walked, trying to comfort her a little bit.  "So taking you out for a drink is out of the question," I said, trying to lighten the modd a little bit as I smiled a little bit at her.  "I've wanted to go see Sirius... but I just don't know if I can lie to him when he's somewhere so horrible... but there is no way I could go as myself."  I sighed and ran my free hand through my hair.  "You realize what is going to happen now, though, right?" I said to her.

Smiling, " You want to know what will happen...you're not getting rid of me that easily. Ever again..." I told him. " You should know that you will not lose me. " I said as I grinned, " Again." I nodded slowly, " It just means we go through it together."

I kissed the too of her head, I could not help it. "I suppose I can live with that," I teased. To be honest, I do not think I could let her go again. She was the only person who accepted me - every part of me - for who I was. I never thought I would get that lucky. "I'm a different person, though, Aimee. A better person... Think you can handle that? Im not a huge bad boy anymore." I as joking around but being honest at the same time.