Who to Choose? -- January 1979 (Break)

I couldn't believe that I was really engaged!  It still seemed unreal to me after two months.  Daddy didn't want me to rush into the wedding... but I would marry in a year or something like that, try to make things easier on my dad..  I wanted a fall wedding though... I thought that'd be so beautiful.  I still had to run it by Sirius, though.  I still couldn't decide who I watned to be my maid of honor.  I was debating between Lily and Tobi.  But I was leaning towards Tobi since we'd been friends for so long.  Though Lily had helped me a lot during the whole... incident; I still didn't like calling it what it was.

I think it'll be Tobi, though Lily adn Chloe would obviously be part of the wedding party.  It was too bad that Tobi and Michael weren't together to hear the happy news.  Tobi had to get pregnant to take care of her illness... and she was out on her own.  I felt so bad for her.  She had it so rough now, though Mum babysat for Tobi so she coudl work.  And we helped as much as Tobi woudl let us money-wise, too.  I would have her little girl be the flower girl if Sirius was okay with that.

I made it to Tobi's to ask her to be my Maid of Honor.  I knocked on the apartment door adn heard some rustling.  The door opened and Tobi stood there with Jada standing behind her.

"Hey, Em!" I said wiht a smile. I turned and Jada walked away to her toys. She started walking at 11 months... she started talking shortly after. I rolled my eyes. "Hey little miss thing, this is your Auntie Ember... are you not going to give her a hug?" I asked, walking over to Jada and picking her up and tickling her a bit, making her go into a giggle fit.

I smiled at the two of tehm. Tobi looked exhausted, but I knew she wouldn't have it any other way now. "C'mere, little miss thing," I said. That's what Tobi and I started calling jada I don't know how long ago... but it stuck. I took her from Tobi and gave her a big kiss. "Have you been causing trouble?"

Jada nodded. "Just a wittle bit," she said, making me laugh.

"A litlte bit more than a little," I added. "Do you want anything, Em? I was just going to make us some lunch>"

"Yeah, whatever you're having is fine by me," I said, walking over to the small dinette area and putting Jada down to sit on the table like she likes to do.

I rolled my eyes. "Well I wasn't going to make you anythign special... I'm not a gourmet chef. You were gonna get what I was having," I told her with a smile. It seemed like forever since I've seen ember... but then again, we used ot hang out all the time but since Jada and my life going crazy and her being Sirius-crazed, it's just seemed like we were kind of distant. Though we did see each other at least once or twice a month still.

I chuckled. "I know... but just in cas eyou felt obligated to make something different," I joked. "Nah, I'm just used to saying it to my mother."

"Gee, thanks for calling me your mum," I said jokingly. I set the food down on the table and sat down. "Jada, pick a lap or your high chair." She clambered over to me and plopped down, sliding off of the table. I let her feed herself, knowing that I'd have to change by the end of it. "So what's up, girl? You seem really... up beat."

I grinned, waitinf for her to bring something up. "Well... Sirius and I are engaged!" I said, holding out my hadn to show her the beautiful ring.

I nearly spit out the bite of sandwich I had in my mouth. I swallowed forcefully and said, "No way! I don't believe it! Oh, my goodness, that ring is gorgeous!" I saw the ring and had to say that Sirius outdid himself.

I nodded. "I know! I couldn't believe it when he did it... I almost didn't believe him... but then I saw the ring and knew that ti was really happening."

"That's amazing, Ember! I'm so happy for you!" I said with a genuine smile. I stood up, letting Jada go to her toys and cleaned up the plates as we finished eating. I was glad that everything was working out wiht Ember. I just wished everything was doing that with me, too. Though I had to say that Peter wasn't all bad. It was just this forced marriage thing that was keeping me from enjoying any of this. I wasn't able to tell Ember any of this. Ihaven't even told her I was seeing anybody. But since Peter and I were going to go to a courthouse tomorrow to get married privately -- the way the Dark Lord wanted it to be -- she'd have to know soon enough. I just didnt' want to steal her thunder.

"Thanks," I said grinning. But I could tell that Tobi wasn't all the way here. "Hey, Tobi, is everything alright? You just seem... tired and worried about something. You know you can talk to me about stuff..." I stood up and went over to her.

I sighed. "Ember, I don't want you to be upset for me not telling you, but I've been seeing this guy for a long time... and it's kind of sketchy the way we met -- I don't wan tto go into the details. But he's going to be moving in... and we're getting married. I'm so sorry! Ember... it's just a difficult situation. So please don't ask me questions, because I don't want to lie to you about it. But I just want you to know what's going on," I said, tears in my eyes. I felt so bad for lying to her... but I had to. For Jada. I looked over at my baby girl and smiled. She got along well with Peter... so that was a good thing. And he really was a nice guy. It was just hard because I had to lie about everything.

I smiled at her and said, "Yes I know. But I can't exactly tell you everything. I'm sorry..." I looked at Jada so hopefully Ember would get my point and quit asking about it.