Everything has changed -- Fall 1999

It was the evening and I was at home on the front porch drinking some hot tea after having a wonderful evening with my family.  I was thinking of Jetty and how I wished that Dad would be able to like him better than he appeared to.  Mum said to give it time, but it was just hard to do that.  I took a sip of tea and closed my eyes for a moment -- seeing the night me and Jetty first met about a month ago in my mind.  When I opened my eyes, I saw my best mate stumbling towards the house.  I set the cup down on the end table and rushed otu to grab her, glad that I did, too, because as soon as I reached her, Fiona nearly collapsed in my arms.  She looked horrible, like she was attacked or something.  "Fiona?" I said, holding onto her.  Then, loudly for the family to hear, "Dad!  Mom!  I need help!" I hoped that one of them would come quickly -- I was not sure if I could get Fiona into the house on my own.

I was out on the back patio smoking and relishing in the fact that I did not have to be grading papers when I heard my daughter's yell.  I jumped up and ran to the front yard, cigarette hanging loosely from my lips as I went.  I saw her best mate, Fiona, looking not that great.  I rushed over and took Fiona from my daughter's arms.  I lifted her up and was glad to see that she was conscious, just injured.  We got her into the house.  "Lyn, get something to calm her down," I said to my daughter.  I got Fiona to settle onto the couch and put a blanket around her because she was shaking terribly.  I grabbed a couple of tissues that we had in a box on the end table to wipe some blood away from her eyes.  "Fiona, you got to talk to me," I said to the girl softly.

I had nowhere else to go but to my best friend's house.  They were magical... they would understand.  No one else would.  I loved the Blacks like they were my own family.  I felt tears well in my eyes as Regulus spoke to me and started to clean me up a little bit.  "It's Austin's uncle," I said, my voice thick.  "He did this."

I reentered the room with some aspirin -- a Muggle remedy, but they really did help... Fiona had given me some once, so I figured she would appreciate them now -- and some water.  I heard her say that Austin's uncle did that to her.  "Austin left, didn't he?" I asked, knowing that Fiona had been panicking about her boyfriend leaving and what his family would do because of that.  Austin did not speak to me about it, but I knew there was a lot there.  I sat down next to my best friend and handed her the aspirin and she took it, shuddering slightly.

I continued to wipe away blood carefully from Fiona's face.  I was not entirely sure what all was injured, so I was trying my best not to hurt her anymore than she already was.  "I'll take care of him," I said, my Slytherin side taking over my words for a moment.  He was no going to put another hand on Fiona or anyone else for that matter.

I stared, wide eyed at Mr. Black.  "Just... keep him from following Austin.  Please," I said, sounding like I was begging.  I just did nto want Mr. Matthews to get a hold of his nephew.  That would be devastating for my Austin.

I had just put Xander in his crib, when I heard Lyn shout. Closing the door behind me as I ran to the living room to see Fiona. " Oh god, " I rushed and got a warm cloth, to help with Fiona. " What happened?"

I looked over at Aims when she walked in.  "Austin's uncle," I said to Aimee.  We met all of Lyn's mates throughout the years... including the one she called her boyfriend - Nolan Greyback.  Aimee had to control me on that one.  But Fiona and Austin were over quite a bit.

I was so glad that Mom was in there.  Dad was kind of freaking me out - I mean, he had an evil glint in his eyes about making sure this never happened again.  I looked at Mom.  "Apparently Austin left his uncle... and his uncle was not okay with that.  And it turned into him hurting Fiona," I explained more in depth than Dad did.

I looked at them, trying to smile to show them how much I appreciated them for helping me.  "Apparently... it was his way of showing Austin what happens when he leaves," I said, not entirely understanding the logic behind it.  According to Austin, him and I probably would never see each other again.

"Or a way to get him back," I added, shaking my head.  I looked at my dad, knowing that he was going to do something.  Mum was tending to Fiona.  I knew how Austin was with Fiona; if he knew she was injured, he would come to her aid.

I looked at the Blacks.  "This is how he's trying to  get him back here," I said quietly.  "By torturing me... we mustn't let Austin find out.  He needs to find his brother..."

I had let Aims take over while I paced in the living room.  I looked at the girls.  "I am going to find Chris Matthews," I said to them.  I was not entirely sure what I was going to do once I found him, though.  I had plenty of tricks up my sleeve from my Death Eater days; I would try to refrain from that, however, as it was not wise to open that part of myself when I had been trying to keep it in the past as much as possible.

I nodded to Reg full knowing he was going to do something stupid. I didn't really care if he did hurt Matthews at all to be honest. I was wiping away some of Fiona's blood. " Don't worry Fiona...we'll get everything settled. After we get you cleaned up we'll find you some pajamas. " I told her as soon as the girls went to bed I would be up to guard just in case. My daughter and essentially my other daughter and my son were here. You are damn right in thinking I will protect them all with every ounce of strength in me. " You better get back here in one piece.." I warned him.

I looked at the girls and then Aims.  I tried to give her a reassuring smile.  I may not look my slightly darker self in my vests over button-down shirts and jeans -- especially with kids running around.  "I'll be perfectly fine," I assured her.  I went up to her and gave her a kiss.  "Just take care of the girls here... and Xander.  He might come searching..."