Of All The Places -Closed-

[Kaydence Morgan]

The sounds of the wheels chugging along the tracks had always been soothing to her as a child. Focusing on the soft chug, chug, chug typically calmed any trip jitters. Not that there should have been of course. Trains were one of the safest forms of transportation around. No, the jitters that tended to arise came from where the train’s final destination was. Kaydence Morgan had taken quite a lot of train trips during her life. They were the preferred method of the Morgan family when she was a child. Given that her father owned his own boxcar, they immensely enjoyed the privacy the car gave them. Those trips were the best. They were always to some beach in Italy for the summer or the Alps for the winter. As she got older, the family didn’t go on many more family vacations. These trips were reserved for Darrin and their father. His training, meetings with people whose identities she couldn’t remember and “business trips”. Kaydence always tried to appear enthused for these. She had too. She always had to be the proud sister and daughter. She had to make sure to show unity with her family despite the growing turmoil with her brother and father.

Then, as she got even older, those trips were under disguise as she fled Austria to try and escape the hell that was her life. Hiding from Darren, hiding from Evan, hiding from Ashton. It was funny how males always seemed to be common theme for Kaydence and her need to disappear. Sure, there were other factors involved but men were always at the forefront. The last time, she already knew how to apparate by then. Kaydence’s last journey from Austria could have easily been over in an instance. This time though, she truly felt it was going to be her last time ever in the country so she wanted to see the beautiful landscapes, the sunny island of Ilfracombe in the background and all the other various nature elements she always took for granted. That last time was it. She had run away, came back, run away and came back again. She couldn’t do this anymore. Anytime she had ever been back to Austria, bad luck always fucking followed her. ALWAYS. Kaydence also always had a way of cheating death there as well. Getting older had been the worst thing to happen to her. The consequences of her mistakes were brutal. They always cost her friends, family, blood and her sanity. Eight years ago, Kaydence had finally had enough. If she didn’t leave, she would die. No questions about it.

That should have been enough for Kaydence to stay away. And she did. She did for so long. In her time away, she had really done well for herself. She had completely changed her identity, now being known as Emmeline Nash to the world. She met a man whom she fell deeply and passionately in love with. She got pregnant, again, but carried a son to full-term with no complications other than the occasional hormonal meltdown or bags of Bertie Botts and chocolate frogs at 3 am in the morning which the man got for her no questions asked. Kaydence did everything she could do be a great mother. The little boy, Lukas, deserved nothing but that. As he got older, she took more time for herself. Took some classes that she was interested in, including a defensive class to hone up on her dueling skills to protect her small family from the dangers that she knew faced them everyday. By the age of 26, she was proficient in the dark arts and dark magic. Although it was something she did not practice regularly, Kaydence felt it absolutely necessary to keep Lukas and Noah safe. Every so often, she would find something for target practice, take it out into the woods behind their sprawling mansion and hone her skills for hours on end. Besides the Dark magic, she had also taken a few painting classes after discovering how much it helped calmed her anxiety.

Things were good. They were so great. Then, a few months ago, something happened that solidified just how great things actually were. Noah had proposed to Kaydence. Despite being together for eight years at this point, and being deeply in love, the couple had never felt any pressure to make things official. They were completely content. To be honest, she had been caught by surprise when Noah had gotten down on one knee with the massive rock. There had been no change in his behavior in the days or weeks leading up to the engagement. They had just put Lukas to bed and Noah had insisted they take a moonlight stroll to the small lake that surrounded their property. She had been extremely hesitant. She refused to leave Lukas alone. The thought of it gave Kaydence almost crippling anxiety but Noah was gentle and convinced her that with a house-elf in his room, a bodyguard guarding the door, one guarding the hallway, one guarding the stairs and two guarding the back door and front door that he would be fine. She ultimately agreed and he led her by the hand down the winding path to the lake. When they got there, Noah had decorated the gazebo with dimly lit lights and beautiful white and purple mallows. Of to the side, was an old record player on a table with a bucket of champagne and two flutes next to it. He released her hand to drop the needle on the record and old 20’s music began to fill the air. This still wasn’t strange to Kaydence. Noah was an incredibly romantic man. He smiled as he turned back to her and offered her his hand. "Dance with me my kärlek." She gave him her hand. He took it, pulled her in and wrapped his free hand around her waist.

Smiling, Kaydence stepped closer and placed her head just below his shoulder. Closing her eyes, they swayed to the music for a few minutes just enjoying each other’s company and the music. “You know how much I love you, don’t you Emmeline?” She chuckled and murmured, “Of course my love. Do you know how much I love you?” He had placed her chin on her head and wrapped his arm tighter around her. “I would do anything for you. Anything for our son. You both bring me so much happiness on even the darkest days. You both deserve the world and I will do everything to give it to you.” They had fallen into silence once again with the music playing in the background. After another song, Noah stopped and stepped an inch away from her. Looking down at her, he smiled and cupped her chin. “Mitt hjärta, min skatt, mitt liv, mitt alt (my heart, my treasure, my life, my everything).” He stood there for another moment before grabbing her hands and kissing the backs of them. Stepping a bit further away this time, his right hand moved to his back pocket and returned with a small black box. Realizing what was happening, Kaydence’s eyes widened and she gasped. Smirking, Noah bent down on one knee and gazed up at her. Slowly, he brought his left hand to the right and opened it. Resting comfortably inside was a huge 3 carat diamond in a French set halo diamond band. “Marry me Emmeline.”

And the rest was history. Well, mostly. Although she had ultimately said yes, after a minute or two of extremely awkward silence, she was terrified. The ring was beautiful. He was perfect for her. They were perfect for each other. The thing was, Noah had no idea who she really was. Kaydence was only giving him a character. He knew about her quirks but he didn’t know her real name. He didn’t know her past. He didn’t know her brother was the former Dark Lord. He didn’t know anything, but he had never asked. Like her, Noah had his own secrets and she never felt compelled to ask about them because of the guilt she felt about what she was hiding from him. So, in a sense, they were utterly perfect for each other. However, a commitment of this magnitude could really complicate things. All these thoughts filled Kaydence’s mind while Noah remained on the ground staring up at her. Despite her anxiety and a few thousand what ifs, she began to cry and nodded her head. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”

The engagement was what had started it all. The small family lived in engaged bliss for the following months. Kaydence had begun planning on dream wedding while Noah began working more to pay for what he wanted to give her. Ultimately, it was decided that they would have a small one. Given the fact they had lots of acquaintances and an amount of friends they could count on their hands, something large and extravagant, was unnecessary and, to Kaydence, asking for attention they didn’t need. Instead, Noah had approached her with an alternative. “My kärlak, I have an idea.” She had been laying in bed with Lukas, reading him a story when Noah had come in. Looking up from the book, she placed her hand on her son’s head and began running her fingers through his hair. “Yes, my darling?” Noah walked to the bed and sat down next to her. “An island.” Kaydence furrowed her brow and looked at him. “An island?” she repeated. “Yes,” he said, inching closer. “An island. I want to buy us a small island off of the coast of Spain. I want us to move there, get married there and stay there. Just you, Lukas and myself. We don’t have to have any people around us. No neighbors, no towns, no bustling cities. We don’t ever have to leave.” She had laughed at first. “An island Noah? Do you know how much land like that costs? There’s only a select number of people in this world who have enough money to buy one. Your wealth seems to know no bounds my darling but even that seems absurd.” Noah furrowed his brow in return. “Absurd? How so? Emmeline, I have been busting my ass to make this happen. I’ve been travelling all over Europe brokering deals, buying and selling for almost ten times what I buy things for. Does it really seem absurd and reckless that we could do this?” She said nothing in response. Grabbing her chin, he turned her head to his. “My kärlak. We can do this. Isn’t it you who is always worried about the safety of our son? Isn’t it you who hates being around people at all costs? Hence why you rarely leave the house?” He paused. “Let me give our family this. Let me give YOU this.”

[Noah Eklund]

There had been nothing but silence in the air for what seemed like ages. He had been staring at board for at least five minutes. His thumbs propped up his chin while his fingers from both hands were interlaced covering his mouth. Although he most have looked thoroughly perplexed, Noah was simply debating whether or not to throw this excruciating game of wizard’s chess with his son. He could have easily taken him. Both of them were in the position to win. However, Noah’s path to defeat would require a challenging move with three jumps that the boy would surely protest against. If he didn’t and moved his queen to the right instead, it would give Lukas’ queen the edge to obliterate the fuck out of his own and set up his king for checkmate. Despite knowing he was going to let the boy win, he wanted to keep his son on the edge of his seat. He really wanted to sell this. Although losing wasn’t in his nature, Noah had a huge soft spot when it came to Lukas. Throughout the years there had been many games of wizard’s chess and gobstones he had thrown just to see the eager look of excitement, and the resulting celebration, from the young boy. Confidence needed to be instilled at an early age. That was a motto he believed very firmly in given how successful his life was after he had adapted it as a teenager.

It had taken awhile to understand what confidence actually meant. As a child, Noah Eklund was born into a poor family. A very, very poor family. His father worked at a factory making minimum wage. His mother had a medical disability that prevented her from being able to stand for long periods of time keeping her house-ridden for a majority of his life. They struggled daily but they still did their best to provide for him. Still, things never truly got easier, well, for him at least, until he became a teen. Once he was old enough to begin working, Noah dropped out of school to help support his family. His father had lost his job not too long before Noah was set to graduate. The family couldn’t survive with neither parent working so it was up to him to take care of them. He had tried his hand at working normal jobs but could never quite find anything that was his niche. That was until one night he had heard commotion behind a closed door that led to the office of the restaurant he was a busboy at. He had offered to stay late to clean up after a huge party that had rented the entire place out for the night. It had taken him an hour or two, but as he had been wrapping things up and was nearly ready to tell his boss that he was leaving for the night, he had heard things crashing and loud voices behind the door labelled OFFICE. Noah had been conflicted, either leave and pretend he didn’t hear anything or risk the chance of something happening to his boss and him losing his third job in two months. 

Taking a deep breath, Noah rushed to the door and knocked to no avail. The sound of the angry voices probably made it impossible to hear. Slowly bringing his hand to the doorknob, he closed his eyes and braced himself for whatever was going to be behind the door. After taking another breath, he opened them, turned the knob and pushed himself in. Immediately everything stopped. When his eyes focused in on the scene in front of him, he saw his boss, plus three other men sitting around a green table with cards all over. Two of them had pointed wands at each other but turned them to him upon the door opening. Another one had beer running down the sides of his face as he had stopped mid-drink to stare at Noah. His boss glared at him while ashes from a fat stogey dropped onto the table below. “What the fuck do you want Eklund?” Completely caught off guard, he said nothing for a few seconds. “Well? You’re interrupting something important.” Although he knew that all he needed to do was tell the man he was leaving for the night, his curiosity got the best of him and he proceeded to ask, “What are you all doing?” Chuckling, the man who had the beer stein to his lips placed the mug down on the table and wiped his face with the back of his hand. His beard was soaking. “’Ouldn’t you like to know?” Noah couldn’t quite place the accent. Irish maybe? Before anything else could be said, he heard a hissing come from the side of the room. His eyes darted toward the sound, only to widen even further as they landed on the cause. “Is that…an Ashwinder?” 

An Ashwinder was a snake born the flames of magical fires. Noah knew about them from his care of magical creatures class back at school before he had dropped out. It had always been one of his favorite classes. Although not quite rare, they were definitely uncommon, especially the fiery hot eggs they laid not to long after surfacing. The eggs were often used for potion ingredients though as he would learn later, also extremely valuable on the wizarding black market for weaponry. Noah also knew that the eggs needed to be frozen without a certain amount of time before they exploded, obliterating everything in sight…including this room. He gulped and look back at the table of men. “Aye, very good,” Beer Beard said, “You ‘ant in fer it?” In? What did he mean? Play? He gazed at the table taking in the piles of cards and galleons, the latter which he currently had none of in his pocket. His eyes moved back towards the Ashwinder nest. How could these idiots think of playing a game when the room could burst into flames at any minute? “I haven’t any money and I don’t know how to play,” Noah sheepishly admitted. Beer Beard laughed, “Sure yur boss Nordy here ‘ouldn’t mind giving yer a few galleons to play with. Least he could do for you disrupting our game an all.” The two wand-pointers joined in the laughing. He didn’t even need to look at his boss to feel the hole his glare was burning into his soul. “Well hurry the fuck up and sit down Eklund before this whole goddamn place goes up in flame.” 

And the rest, as they say, was history. Ol’ Nordy took Noah under his wing and taught him the ins and outs of gambling. Surprisingly, he was a natural at it. By the end of the year, he had earned enough money to pay off his parents debt as well as keep food on the table daily. Once the money began piling in, Nordy suggested he take up a trade so it didn’t look suspicious that a 17 year old, whose family had nothing, all of a sudden were on the way to everything. So he took up antiquing. He apprenticed under some sleazy bastard who knew how to scam people who didn’t know how valuable their old junk actually was. It helped Noah that he was a charmer so convincing people to sell him their belongings for cheap was easy. He would then turn the items for a profit sometimes five times more than what he had bought them for. Nordy had also used his connections in the wizarding black market to help Noah deal in other things that turned an even bigger profit. Cursed items, personal effects of deceased DeathEaters, haunted paintings, you name it. By the age of 25, he had built himself quite the empire. His name was well-known and reputable on both sides of the street. 

After a particularly big investment one evening, Noah had decided to take himself, and the group of leeches he barely called friends, out to a club to celebrate. He had paid for the table, the bottles and the drugs. The night wore on and his head was spinning. At that point, he didn’t know if he was more high, drunk or an odd combination of the both. All he knew was that his stomach was starting to ache and he needed to take it easy otherwise he was going to fall to the ground convulsing attracting unneeded attention. Slouching down further in his chair, Noah drew his sunglasses from his pocket and placed them over his heavily-dilated eyes. Hopefully this would keep the hussies from around the table from making any contact with him. As soon as he seemed to have thought about it though, a blonde one appeared in front of him and sat on his lap with a giggle. He was melting into the chair and couldn’t remember how to move his arms to push her off. He grunted as her weight pushed him further into the cushioning. Fuck, it had been miserable. Noah felt himself zoning out, the music was deafening, the strobe lights were blinding. His head rolled to the right, his eyes focusing on the dance floor. It was at that exact time that his sight honed in on movement not too far away from him. Or maybe it was. His depth perception had been shit. Squinting, he tried to focus and it was then that everything seemed to stop. 

That was when he had first laid eyes on his beloved Emmeline. She was stunning. Tall, leggy and in a dark purple dress that accentuated her curves in all of the right places. Noah could feel his mouth drop open as he took her in. Her eyes were a striking blue that contrasted the dark wavy hair that fell past her shoulders nicely. It sounds cliché, or it could have been the beginnings of his comedown, but everything fell into slow motion. He stared as she walked towards a group of women who he could only assume her friends. He could feel the corners of his lips turning into a smirk as she tossed her head back and laughed. Noah had never experienced actual love, but he had a feeling deep in his gut that this was it. Love at first sight. He had to go to her. Finding every ounce of strength he could muster, he grabbed the waist of the blonde on his lap and moved her to the seat next to him. Another groan left him as he moved his hands to the sides of him and pushed up. He got a few inches off before losing his balance and falling back into the plush cushion of the chair. He could hear laughter around him. “Laugh again,” he mumbled, “And I’ll kick you all out.” Knowing very well his ability to do this, the leeches stopped and resumed whatever conversations they were having. Breathing out deeply, Noah once again pushed up, this time finding his footing and standing up straight. At 6’4 and his equilibrium disabled, he felt like he was up in the clouds looking at all the people below him. Merlin this was shitty. Walking towards the rope blocking off his section from the club floor, he moved past the bouncer as the man unclipped the chain and allowed him to past. He carefully maneuvered down the stairs and in the direction of his brunette beauty who was still waiting for him at the end of the bar. 

As Noah moved closer, he frowned as he saw an attractive man approach her. Not as handsome as him of course but certainly good-looking. He watched the two interact for a moment before seeing the woman’s clear expression of annoyance, or at least that’s what he thought he saw, while she nibbled at an olive from her martini. He had nothing to worry about. He pressed on, pushing shoulders out of the way as he got closer and closer. Within a few moments, he was behind the bloke. Moving his hand to the guy’s arm, Noah stepped in between them. “She’s spoken for mate.” The guy looked confused, staring first at him and then back at the woman. The woman’s eyes moved towards him. God they were like oceans. He swore he could almost see the waves within them. He had no idea what his dealer had given him but he had to get more of it. The woman grinned and shrugged her shoulders as she slipped another olive off of the toothpick. “He speaks for me.” And a sense of humor? He chuckled. The guy gave him a look of disgust before holding up his hands and inching slowly away. Noah took this opportunity to step in and lean up against the bar. The woman looked at him curiously, taking a swig from her martini. They stared at each other in silence for what seemed like ages until she said, “Sunglasses in the club?” Her voice was sultry, smoky. “It’s bright,” he yelled, perhaps a little too loudly. The music was getting loud again. She shook her head and laughed. “I speak for you, eh?” She turned to look back at him, biting her lip as she did. Good Merlin that was the sexiest thing he had ever seen. He began to imagine leaning forward, grabbing the back of her hair to pull her face to his and biting down in that same exact spot she had been before. “If you let me join in on the fun.” 

And in a move that she will never let him live down, Noah leaned in, cupping the woman’s chin as if to kiss her but then wrapped his fingers as if in a pulling motion and extended it and his arm out towards the right, presenting the table he and the leeches had been stationed all night long. He looked down at her with a stupid grin on his face and yelled, “After you.”

[Kaydence Morgan]

Kaydence had remembered the night they met very well. It had been one of her first nights in Sweden. She had fled from Austria only a few days prior. For the time being, she had shacked up with a girlfriend from her school days. Well, that’s what she had been implying towards the girl. The girl, Bria, had been a year younger than her. She had been one of her followers for as long as she could remember. Bria had been infatuated with her, well, at very least the idea of her. That girl did anything and everything Kaydence asked her to regardless of the task. Once she had graduated, she fell out of touch with Bria almost instantly. The girl would send her owls every once in awhile but she never responded to any of them. She did remember one particular owl in which Bria had told her she was moving to Sweden. She enthusiastically wrote about the new location and begged Kaydence to come visit her if she ever had any free time. She never did until that fateful week she had decided that it was time to leave Austria once and for all. She had reached out to the same man who had done her original paperwork for a new alias. At first, he had been upset that he spent all those weeks the last time helping her out so for her to fuck it all up. However, after an extra hundred galleons, he was ready to help again.

When all the paperwork was set up for the final time, Kaydence had pulled out Bria’s letter about Sweden. It hadn’t been safe at the time to mail and ask where she lived, but fortunately for her, the girl literally wrote everything she needed to know on the sheet of paper. She had it tucked in the bag with all of her other forms and documentation and decided to wing it. It had been a year or two since the last letter but she highly doubted Bria had left. At least she really hoped so. Taking the last train out of Vienna after midnight, Kaydence hid herself, and her dog in one of the last corners; tucked away in hopes that no one would recognize her. Besides her brother, she was one of the most sought after people in the country by the Ministry of Magic and her brother and his loyal band of DeathEaters. Some of it had been her own doing of course. She had a tendency to find herself in places she shouldn’t with people she shouldn’t. She had made one of the most dangerous decisions she could by being with Ashton Wentworth. A fucking Auror who worked for the Ministry for Merlin’s sake. Although she loved him, and loved him very deeply, they were never destined to be together. Trouble had followed them at literally ever corner. He had saved her more times then she cared to admit and things were only bound to catch up to him for it. Kaydence had lived with that guilt every single day until she couldn’t do it anymore. She had to free him and allow him to live a life that wasn’t centered around making sure that they were safe…that she was.

On top of that, everyone hated her after she had renounced her brother and her family. Kaydence had made herself blacklisted. The only logical option had seemed to be to leave. She had tried twice before but this one had to be the final time. There was no place for her in the country that she honestly loved quite dearly. The only things that would wind up happening if she stayed would be that she would likely die and Ashton would be right behind her. Neither one of them deserved that. Kaydence knew he would never understand but maybe this was something he didn’t need to. On the last night, he had been at work later than anticipated, which had ultimately helped in her escape. She could barely keep herself together as she packed a very small bag with only necessities and a change of clothes. As she zipped her bag shut, she had sniffed and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Come on Oli,” she said to the large furry white beast. He came bounding over to her, allowing her to clip his leash to his collar as he anticipated the walk he knew was coming. Kaydence began leading them towards the door. Her reached for the knob, turning it to the right and pulling it open. They had only taken a step out before she realized she had forgotten something. Sighing heavily, she unzipped her bag and took out a single sheet of paper. She could barely read the words through the tears that were now flooding down her cheeks. Thrusting the paper at a display stand she had needlessly bought with his money, she cleared the rest of the door and shut it behind her.

After a day or two of travel, Kaydence finally made it to Sweden with Oli and set on the search to find this apartment. It didn’t take the two of them but only a few hours to locate the spot. Upon seeing the entrance, she had sneered. It was on the water, like Bria had said, but it was all the way on the other end of the downtown she said she had lived so close by. It was a small three story brick building that looked like it was on its last leg. “Merlin,” she muttered, pulling at Oli’s collar as she began leading them to building. Once they had reached the door, she took a very deep breath and knocked at the door. Kaydence swore it was like Bria was waiting behind the damn door for somebody, anybody, to knock because she opened it instantly and screamed with excitement. “KAYDENCE MORGAN I SIMPLY CAN’T BELIEVE IT!” She practically lost her balance as the girl jumped at her and gave her a hug with such force she was stunned the little girl even had. “Merlin Bria get a fucking grip on yourself. You’re scaring my dog.” The girl squealed again before jumping back and putting her fingers to her mouth. “Kaydence I…I just can’t believe it! I was so scared you weren’t ever going to come but I should have known better. I’m sorry I did.” Kaydence rolled her eyes and stepped through the door. “Yeah, yeah all is forgiven. Show me where my room is. “Y-y-your room?” She looked over to Bria and glared at her. “Duh, if you invite someone over Bria you have to have some place for them to stay. So where am I staying?” The girl looked terrified. “Well, I um…um I-I-I never really thought about that Kay. I was just….I was just so excited you might come I didn’t think of it…” Dropping Oli’s leash, Kaydence rolled her eyes again and threw up her arms. “Goddamnit Bria! Where’s your room then?”

So it stayed that Bria’s room became Kaydence’s room while Bria slept on the couch for the foreseeable future. A few days after she had arrived, Bria had invited two of her girlfriend’s over to get ready for a girls night out. That’s what had led them to the Diskofeber nightclub where Noah and his band of drugclowns would have already been in a two hour party binge. They entered and Kaydence had felt eerily out of place. Even though she knew she looked good, all the men were staring already, she didn’t know if she was ready for this. Wasn’t it being risky of her to go out and about regardless of the country? It was. She knew that. What she didn’t know was what could be waiting for her out in the middle of that dance floor. Then again, it could be one of the safest since there were a ton of dancing bodies in a black room lit up by strobe lights. Merlin she needed a drink. “Follow me!” She had yelled back to the crew of girls. There were a few galleons in her pocket but none that she expected to use that night. Hopefully within the next fifteen minutes she would have gotten them into some slimeball’s VIP table. Glancing towards the left, Kaydence briefly remembers seeing Noah legs for the first time but not his actual face due to being slouched in the chair and very high. As her eyes turned back to the front, she pushed through three more bodies until they were at the bar. The other girls shuffled in next to her. “Play cool,” she yelled. “Let THEM come to YOU! Make sure he buys you a drink. If he doesn’t stop talking to him and wait for the next one.”

And instead of one, she got two. The first was a sandy-haired surfer looking type who was attractive but the length of his hair was disgusting so she’d let him buy her a drink after this one. Fortunately for her, that one was quickly replaced by a taller, dark-haired, handsome (at least so she thought) , sunglass wearing one. Watching their first interaction, Kaydence had been instantly hooked after he had informed the guy that she was “spoken for”. Ahh the cocky asshole. Her favorite type. Especially the ones who looked like they already knew how to have a great time. She allowed him to bring her to the table. She squeezed in next to him on the worn armchair. Getting some weird energy from the right, she looked in that direction to a blonde who was glaring at her. Ahh he must have left her for her. Too bad she didn’t know what that felt like. Shrugging, she smirked at the woman and turned back to face the man. “I’m Noah. And you?” He extended his hand. Looking down at it, she took it with her own and looked back up at him. “K….Emmeline,” she responded, like an idiot. Kaydence could see Noah’s brow furrowing behind his glass. “Kemmeline?” She rolled her eyes. “EMMELINE.” He grabbed her hand and brought it up to his lips, placing a light kiss on the back of it. “Alright Emmeline. How bout we have some fun?” He grinned, pulling his hand from hers to his back pocket. As he brought it back to the front, she noticed something in his hand. Licking the back of his index finger, he pushed down on his hand and came back up with a pill. "Open up."

[Noah Eklund]

Despite the amount of liquor and drugs in his system, Noah would never be able to forget the night they first met. He would never get tired of telling Emmeline how he knew he loved her from the very first minute he set eyes on her. He would always tell her how he yearned for her in the weeks after their night together. She had left his room in a rush the next morning. She hadn’t left a last name, a number or anything that could help him search for her. He would always tell her how he hadn’t left his bed for the entire day. How he was mostly face-down all day trying to rack his brain of any detail she had given him while also trying not to throw up. It was weeks before he would see her then, conveniently at the first place they had met. Noah had once again been moping all night. Two empty bottles of whiskey lay at his feet alone. The leeches had a new group of hussies. One of them was sitting on the arm of his chair, another blonde one funnily. He wanted nothing to do with any of them. All he wanted to do was be at home with two more bottles of whiskey. “Another round!” He yelled as a table girl began to take his two empty bottles. She nodded and backed out of section. Groaning, he threw his head back on the chair and closed his eyes.

He could still see flashes of dark light underneath his eyelids. The music was so fucking loud tonight. Heavy bass drops and the same keyboard sound being played over and over. Noah tried his best to focus on the beats to try and block all thoughts of that woman to his mind. He’s not sure if he fell asleep or was just very drunk, but he was shaken awake by one of his leeches. “Noah! That chick from the other week is here.” His eyes instantly shot open. He leaned up so fast he knocked the blondie on the chair arm off and on the ground. Ignoring her cry, he stepped over her and walked to the rope where Emmeline was. Merlin she was just as beautiful as he remembered. If not, more. This time she was in a blue dress. Not nearly as form-fitting as he would have liked but he’d forgive her. He grinned stupidly at her. She didn’t return the gesture. “No sunglasses tonight?” Noah laughed. “It’s not as bright. Come up.” He moved his hand down towards her. She took it, but instead tugged it lightly towards her. Those blue eyes focused in on her and she motioned over her shoulder with her head. His grin grew. She wanted to skip the warmup and go straight to the big game? He was not about to tell her no. Plus, fuck those bastards anyway. They needed to be left with the tab for once.

Noah allowed Emmeline to lead the way. He had no idea where she was taking him but he didn’t care. She had come back to him. Surely, she knew the energy they had was real. They continued walking through the crowd for another few seconds before they escaped and she took them to a darkened hallway. He chuckled. Didn’t want to waste any time. He could appreciate that. All of a sudden she stopped and dropped his hand, turning to face him. He instantly stepped towards her and brought his hand to the side of her face. Lowering his head, he locked his lips with hers and they kissed. A very long and passionate kiss that he had never experienced with anyone prior to her. Noah gently maneuvered her to the wall. He ran his hand down the side of her body. He could feel their energies meshing together again. Pressing himself further on her, he lowered his lips to the side of her neck. Merlin what was she doing to him? It was like he couldn’t get enough. He was an animal. “I’m pregnant.” Well that was a sentence to tame even the wildest of animals. Noah stopped kissing her collarbone. He stood like that for a minute, allowing the awkward silence to take over. Eventually, he raised his eyes to hers. “Come again?” Emmeline had pushed at his chest without enough force to make him step back. “I’m pregnant.” That’s what he thought she said. His hand went to cover his mouth for a few moments before he ran it though his hair. Bringing that one and his other to his mouth, he stepped back into the wall and slid down in a squat position.

She didn’t move. He didn’t either. They remained in stunned silence for at least a good ten minutes. So many thoughts going on his mind. He couldn’t imagine the ones in hers. A baby? Out of wedlock? He wasn’t perfect but for Merlin’s sake he would have like to have kept a bit of tradition for his mother. He was only twenty five. He barely knew how to take care of himself so bringing in another human or two would be catastrophic. He was barely ever at home. He always travelled. He couldn’t stop travelling that’s how he made all of his money. He couldn’t stop so he could provide. Where would he even buy things for the baby? A baby store? Duh Noah, you fucking idiot. He would have to go to a baby store. Anything and everything was racing through his mind. Eventually, it got to the point where he couldn’t tolerate the silence any longer. “What are you going to do?” he asked through his hands. She didn’t answer for a moment. Looking up at her, he noticed a change in her exterior. The ferocity at which she come at him with earlier in the night was replaced by what he could only pick up as sadness. Dare he say…vulnerability. He grew concerned. He pushed himself up and crossed his arms, awaiting her response. “I don’t know,” she confessed. “I should say no but lots of things have happened…” As she trailed off, Noah wondered what she meant by that last comment but he didn’t press her. Truthfully, he didn’t know what the fuck to do. Normal men would have probably just left her there. They would have went back to the table, did a shot or two or three of whiskey and starting making out with a blonde who was still potentially laying on the floor. Something couldn’t make Noah do that to her. Even though he was an incredibly selfish human being, something about Emmeline made him feel compelled to stay with her. To comfort her. He had no idea who the fuck she was or how she got here but they were connected. Both spiritually and now, physically. He walked over to her, raised his hand to her head and pushed back a strand of hair from her eyes. “Then don’t,” he said, a genuine smile on his lips. If there was one thing Noah believed in, it was that things happened for a reason. Everything happened for a reason. He wasn’t quite sure what this reason was yet but a new reality was going to come for him very soon. Now he just wondered if Emmeline would be along for the ride or if his calm demeanor was too questionable for her. He would understand either way. He hoped it would be the former though.

“DAD!”

Noah snapped out of the trail down memory lane as Lukas’ voice broke in. “Dad come on! You’ve been staring at the board for five minutes. My knight is burning your pawn with his spear. Will you move already?” He looked down at the board to see the two pieces interacting just as his son had observed. “Huh. Well wouldn’t you know?” That’s something he had never seen before. He took one more glance at the board before making his final move. “Queen to F4.” After that, he swore he heard the little piece yell in protest but it slid forward. Noah looked towards his son as the boy discovered the wrong move his father had made. “Bad call! Knight to F4 and checkmate!” He heard the crumble of stones as Lukas’ knight destroyed his queen and his king fell to its side. Throwing his hands up in the air, Noah shrugged his shoulders, “You got me. I went off into space longer that I should have. You win fair and square.” The little boy pursed his lips and looked at him. “I better have.” Noah laughed, “You did.” He looked down at his watch and noticed the time. 5:45. They were due in Alzubra Alley soon. “Go into the food car and have one of the house-elves fix you a snack Lukas. It’ll hold you over until dinner.” The little boy shrugged and slid off the shirt. “Alright Dad. What if Nzatem is in there? You know he’ll try to feed me worms again.” Nzatem was a house-elf who had tried to give Lukas spaghetti one evening and described them as worms. He thought he had been playing but after turning the plate into an actual plate of worms, he scared the boy years afterwards. “Then you can tell him I will fling him out of the train before we get to Vienna.” Lukas laughed and made the ok symbol with his fingers before turning around and exiting the car.

As he exited, one of his guards entered the car. “Mr. Eklund. We’re thirty minutes away.” Noah dismissed him with a nod and walked over towards Emmeline. Sitting down next to he pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, one of his favorite things to do. “Emmeline, did you hear that?”

[Kaydence Morgan]

Noah had always been so good to her. From the moment she had met him at the club that first night, everything seemed oddly genuine. Kaydence had thought about him long and hard the weeks leading up to the discovery of her pregnancy. Their chemistry had been irrefutable. However, she knew the last thing she needed was to get involved with someone so quickly after arriving. It was dangerous to get involved with anyone period, hence why she left Ashton. As much as she hated to admit it to herself, she had even felt guilty about the attraction towards Noah. Kaydence knew it wasn’t fair to Ash despite him not being in the picture anymore. This was a situation she needed to avoid at all costs. Plus, even though she felt Noah was different, she didn’t know for sure that he was. Drugs can make anybody seem like a better person than what the actually were.

About a week or so after their fateful encounter, Kaydence began feeling sick. At first she had just thought it was Bria’s awful cooking but as the nausea and headaches persisted daily and her energy began to drain, she knew that something was wrong with her. The bad thing was that she had felt this very way before. It had been a very long time ago but the symptoms had been practically the same. So, under the cover of darkness one night, Kaydence had dipped out of Bria’s apartment to a local pharmacy. Once she had entered, she quickly went to the aisle she knew she needed to go, grabbed the thing she needed to use and shoved it in her coat pocket. Not to look too suspicious, she went the next aisle over and picked up some cold medicine. She took her purchase to the counter, paid for it and then left almost as fast as she had entered. Hurrying back to Bria’s apartment, she ignored the girl as she bubbly asked if everything was alright and made her way to her room. Closing the door behind her, Kaydence had taken off her coat and reached inside the pocket where she had stuffed the box and pulled it out. She opened it, her hands shaking as she pulled out the piece of plastic. She moved towards the bathroom, nearly dropping the thing a few times in the short couple of steps it took towards the toilet. Even though the bedroom door was shut, she still shut the bathroom door as she opened for a little extra bit of privacy she felt she needed. Kaydence peed, placed the piece of plastic on the counter and began to pace nervously. Walking back and forth and back and forth, she didn’t stop until 10 minutes had passed. When it had, and she saw the results, she fell back into the wall and squeezed her eyes shut. “FUCK!”

The next couple of days after the test had been emotional to say the least. Kaydence had no idea what she was going to do. She knew what she needed to do but it wasn’t something she even wanted to think about. There could not have been any worse time in her life to attempt to bring a child into her world, again. Although it was something she had always wanted, timing was never in her favor. Ever. This was unfair. It was always unfair. So many memories of her last miscarriage came flooding back. The pain, the hurt, the guilt. She remembered how broken she had made Evan despite him telling her that he was fine. Kaydence knew he had never been the same after that. He had always wanted to start a family early and have a big one at that. She had completely destroyed that for him. She had chosen to venture out when she wasn’t supposed to and had cost them both dearly for it. There was also the guilt of getting pregnant with some other guy’s kid who she didn’t even know not too long after being with Ashton for the last time. What the fuck was wrong with her? She didn’t get out bed for days. Bria knew something was wrong but every time she asked, Kaydence would snap at her and just demand she leave or bring her some food. More days of moping past until she woke up one morning with an overwhelming desire to go back to the club and see if she could find Noah. He was a playboy. Surely he’d still be there. He had probably forgotten about her by now but the urge to tell him was overwhelming to say the least. She didn’t know what he would say, how he would act or even if he’d hurt her. She knew his type. A baby is an inconvenience that someone like him couldn’t be bothered with. Kaydence didn’t know what to expect but later on in the night she did her makeup, got dressed and left the room for the first time in a week to head out to the club and see if she could find him.

It wasn’t hard. It was almost too easy. Kaydence had gotten in there and made a beeline straight for the VIP area. She could feel the hands of man touch her as she moved past them, beckoning for her to stop and talk to them but she didn’t. He wasn’t hard to spot. He was at the same table with the same group of hanger-ons and even had another blonde next to him, though this one looked different, still not cute though. She stopped once getting closer to the section and stared at him for a few minutes. He looked distraught. Everyone around him was laughing and having a good time but he didn’t seem to be taking part in any of it. She watched as he allowed his head to fall back into his chair and he closed his eyes. Was he high again? Well, he didn’t have his sunglasses on so that was probably a good sign. This wasn’t the time to do this. As much as she wanted to turn around and leave though, Kaydence felt her feet glued to the floor. What was going on with her? She was the queen of fleeing and dealing with her problems on her own. Could this have been the moment where she just couldn’t do it anymore? That the idea of needing help from someone was a very real reality? Her vision started to blur. No tears but they threatened to spill over at any given moment. Taking a deep breath, her feet allowed her to push forward to the section. As Kaydence approached, she looked up at the bouncer and pointed to Noah.

The reaction he had when seeing her was not at all what she was expecting. He was, dare she say, happy? As he got up, Noah knocked over the new blonde on the arm of the chair, completely disregarding her as she fell to the ground with a cry. Kaydence almost smiled. “No sunglasses tonight?” Hopefully he would catch her drift. This really wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have with someone in the state they had both been a few weeks ago. “It’s not as bright. Come up.” Her eyes went to his hand and he extended it to her. Not here. Not with all these people around. Even though the music was so loud, she couldn’t risk the chance of somebody being nosy and listening in on their conversation. She didn’t know his life. She didn’t know what the news would do to him. So she took his hand and beckoned him down. Noah obliged and she led them to a hallway she had seen earlier that looked private. Kaydence could only imagine what thoughts were racing through his head as they walked. He probably thought she was taking him to have sex right here in the club. Maybe back in her hey day but she was a woman now, with questionable morals but morals nonetheless. Once she felt they were secluded enough, she let go of his hand and turned to face him. She had no idea how to even start this conversation. Did she just say it? Did she deflect for awhile? She had no time to think because within moments Noah had taken hold of her and pulled her in for a kiss. So he did assume there were other motives. Kaydence couldn’t blame him for that. As much as she wanted to push him off and tell him, she couldn’t. She allowed him to take control, to gently push her against the wall and continuing kissing her. She couldn’t deny the energy palpitating between them. It was just like the first night they had met. How could that be?

She had allowed it to continue for a bit longer. Once his lips moved down to her neck though, she moaned. Merlin this had to stop. She had to tell him, but she didn’t want Noah to stop touching her either. He had to know though. Back and forth she went until finally she just had to spit it out, “I’m pregnant.” As he stopped, Kaydence closed her eyes and cursed to herself. When she opened them again, he was looking at her. “Come again?” Fuck. She pushed at his chest, forcing him away from her. “I’m pregnant.” Her gaze never left him as she continued to back away from her. The moment of truth would be coming anytime. Bring her arms to her chest, she uncomfortably stood there, waiting for his response. They were in silence for so long that she never thought it was going to come. Eventually it did. “What are you going to do?” She watched as her rose back to her level, intently staring at her as he awaited her answer. Kaydence wanted to tell him that she was tired. She didn’t know what she wanted to do but she couldn’t take anymore life-changing events. She was only twenty two, but had experienced more in her short lifetime then most. “I don’t know,” she finally said. “I should say no but lots of things have happened…” She had no idea why she confessed to that. Noah didn’t know her. Saying that allowed him to ask questions if he really wanted to. What was she going to say then? She was tired of deflecting. Tired of her initial reaction to things always being running away and hoping for the best. He stepped towards her. A moment of panic briefly overcame her but she stood her ground. His hand lifted and Kaydence braced herself for whatever was coming next. Fuck why didn’t she bring her wand? Instead of doing anything violent though, he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear (something that would bring her a great deal of comfort every time he did it in the future) and smiled at her. “Then don’t.”

“Emmeline, did you hear that?”

She didn’t respond right away. She was completely lost in her thoughts of the rest of that night. Kaydence remembered how her mouth had dropped slightly. Before she knew it, the tears that had threatened her earlier came to fruition and she began sobbing. Noah wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. “It’s alright,” he comforted her. “I’ll take care of you.” She cried even harder, allowing him to completely envelope her with his arms. How was this even possible? How could he be so calm about this? Surely he was setting her up. He’d assure her everything was okay just so she didn’t freak out in the club and then once they were alone, he’d confess how he was really feeling and then demand she take care of the issue immediately. The way he was holding her though. Could he do that? Was he capable of responding the way Kaydence thought he would? Pulling away from her, Noah kissed the top of her head. “Let’s get out of here. You can come back to my place. You look like you could use some quiet.” The better part of her judgment was telling her not to leave with this strange man but the latter knew it was the right decision to make. She nodded and allowed him to wrap his arm around her waist, leading her from the hallway out to the door. She made sure to keep her head down, already embarrassed with the mascara running down her cheeks. As they got outside, Noah led them to a corner of the street with the most lack of foot traffic. He turned around and grabbed her again. “Hold on to me.” Kaydence nodded and stepped into him, pressing her head into his chest and closing her eyes. Seconds later, she felt the familiar pull behind her belly button as they were pulled into nothingness.

“Emmeline? Where are you?”

“What?” Kaydence found herself back in the boxcar again. Her eyes had been on the window, taking in the surroundings when she had disappeared into the memories of years ago. Blinking a few times, everything came back into focus and she frowned as she recognized the familiar mountain ranges off in the distance. They were getting close. “Emmeline.” She quickly turned around to face him. “Hmm?” Noah squinted at her. “Where’d you go?” Kaydence forced a small smile. “I’m sorry darling. I just got lost in thinking about perfect things are going to be soon.” He returned her smile. Propping himself up against the wall next to his seat, Noah pulled her body in to his. She dropped her head to his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his torso. He rested his chin on the top of her head and began rubbing her arm. “How right you are my kärlek. Everything is going to change for us. Just a few days between us and paradise.” These were going to be the longest days of her fucking life. Maybe if she would have been honest with Noah from the beginning he wouldn’t have made them come with him. Surely he would have understood and left them guarded at the mansion back in Stockholm until he came back for them. Yet every time she tried to tell him, she just couldn’t. Kaydence imagined he’d be furious once knowing where she came from, who she actually was and the danger she had already put Lukas in just by having him. She couldn’t lose the both of them. They were her life. She couldn’t take anymore heartbreak in this lifetime.

“Where’s Lukas?” she asked, realizing her son wasn’t in the boxcar any longer. “Food car. I told him to get some food before the train pulls in to Vienna. I have a meeting I need to attend to once we arrive so I had to push back our dinner reservations to 8 instead of 6:30.” This was news to her. Frowning, Kaydence looked up at him. “Already? When we just get there?” She didn’t at all like the idea of Noah leaving them so soon. “Business is business my love. I know you don’t want us sticking around for too long so if you want to get to our tropical bliss I need to hit the ground running as soon as we get there. You’ll have the guards and I won’t be gone for too long. I just have to get a few things started and then I’ll rejoin you.” She felt his lips moved down to her ear. “Maybe after dinner you’ll allow me to make it up to you?” He kissed her lobe before chuckling and replacing his chin at the top of her head. Although the idea of a few courses of dessert sounded extraordinary, he was wonderful in bed, it still didn’t put her at ease of him leaving. Kaydence didn’t want to be alone for a single second with Lukas in this Merlin forsaken country. How she wished she could tell him she had already placed the target on their backs just by being in the train. “Nzatem isn’t in the food car is he?” she asked, quickly changing the subject. Thought that did present another worry that she was going to have to console an upset little boy.

[Noah Eklund]

The fact that she hadn’t moved yet was troublesome. “Emmeline, where are you?” That time had done the trick. “What?” Noah patiently waited for her to come back to reality. “Emmeline,” he said, softly as her head began turning towards his. “Where’d you go?” He was insanely curious given the lack of immediate response when he sat next to her. “I’m sorry darling. I just got lost in thinking about how perfect things are going to be soon.” He returned the smile she had given him. His beloved had no idea just how they would be. Maneuvering his back against the wall of the seat, he pulled her body into his. With so little time out, Noah would normally be preparing the appropriate documents for the transaction. Given that this was a special trip though, he had prepared the night before so he could spend as much time with his fiancée and their son as he could before leaving them immediately from the train station. He had no idea how this would be for them. They were used to him leaving for days on end for business. However, they were not used to the new surroundings they would find themselves in at a swanky condo in Ilfracombe he had rented for the week. He knew Emmeline’s anxiety was at an all time high.

She had been so persistent on staying back when he had mentioned bringing the two of them with him. “No,” she had said, rather quickly as he finished asking. “Absolutely not. We’re not ever supposed to go with you on your “dealings” remember?” He had stared at her, long and hard for a minute or two after. “Well as a matter of fact I do, but wasn’t it you that insisted we move post haste? The quickest way is going to be for you two to come with me, remain tucked away and wait for me. Then when I’m done, I’ll fetch the two of you and we’ll leave on yacht from the beach with all of our belongings stored under deck. Why would you insist on making the trip longer?” It truly hadn’t made any sense to Noah. Emmeline had always been practical, as much as he hated her for it at times. “It’s not safe. Lukas and I by ourselves in a new place? You don’t know who is going to find out about us there or see you with us.” He had laughed, a little too loudly given the straight line her lips turned into. “You don’t think I haven’t thought of that? You don’t think I’ve hired an extra five security warlocks to surround you both any time I’m not there? Hell, even when I am? Do you think I want to take all these extra measures just to ensure the both of yours safety? It’d cost me a hell of a lot less money.” Noah paused, feeling himself growing more irritated by the second. He hated when she questioned his motives. Although he’d admit that there times they were warranted, she had a way of taking a hit at his masculinity.

Honestly, Noah didn’t like the idea any more then she did. It was unsafe to bring them. She was right, he was exposing them. It was exposing a secret side to himself. His reputation thrived on mystery. There’s no telling what information like that could be used against him. Ol’ Nordy could vouch for that personally. He had continued to try and reason with her but Emmeline would have none of it. She didn’t care if they’d have to wait. She didn’t care if he wouldn’t be home for a week straight. This was the safest approach. Noah couldn’t remember another time they had fought like this. Sure, she had been a real bitch during particular points of her pregnancy but she usually wound up crying for forgiveness minutes later because she wanted him to go get her a chocolate frog covered in chocolate syrup. He couldn’t recall any other instance in which she had been this upset with him. Eventually, she grew tired of the arguing and had left his study for their bedroom. He had given her the space he knew they both needed. Eventually the guilt took over and he went to her. She had been laying down with her back facing the door and he could tell she was crying by the way her body was shaking. He came from behind her and pressed the front of his body to back of hers. Wrapping an arm around her waist, Noah relaxed when her hands came to his forearms and squeezed. He wiggled his arm under the pillow where her head rested and kissed the back of her neck. They remained there, quiet for awhile until he planted a line of kisses once again down her neck. “Emmeline, I love you. I will never let anything happen to you or our son. This is the easiest way. This is a safe way. Please go with me. I’m begging you.”

Back in the car, Noah rested his chin on the top of Emmeline’s head. “How right you are my kärlak,” he finally responded. “Everything is going to change for us. Just a few days between us and paradise.” He tightened his hold on her as she pressed herself further into him. The amount of love he had for the woman continued to surprise him daily. Even when she made him so mad he wanted to throw something right threw his very valuable and most favorite hippogriff painting in his study, he could never stay mad at her for long. She was insanely precious to him. On top of that, she was an unbelievable mother to their son Lukas. He could sit with them in silence for hours as they practiced enchantments with his toy wand or as she helped his hand remain steady as he used quills for the first time. She was gentle and kind and he prayed their son knew how lucky he was to have Emmeline as his mother. “Where’s Lukas?” He heard her ask. “Food car. I told him to get some food before the train pulls into Vienna. I have a meeting I need to attend to once we arrive so I had to push back our dinner reservations to 8 instead of 6:30.” Noah had waited to tell her that last part knowing full well her response. He could feel her eyes dart up to him. “Already? When we just get there?” He nodded. “Business is business my love. I know you don’t want us sticking around for too long so if you want to get to our tropical bliss I need to hit the ground running as soon as we get there. You’ll have the guards and I won’t be gone for too long. I just have to get a few things started and then I’ll rejoin you.” He moved her lips to her ear. “Maybe after dinner you’ll allow me to make it up to you?” He had bought another tight purple number for her the other day and would have it waiting for her on the bed when she got there. Not only did she get a gift but he would also be getting one for himself.

Noah replaced his chin back on her head. “Nzatem isn’t in the food car is he?” Chuckling, he responded, “You’re the second person to ask me that in less than ten minutes. He knows the repercussions if he scares Lukas again.” He was indeed very serious about flinging the old elf out of the train window. Lifting his arm, he focused on the silver band around his wrist. 5:55. Twenty minutes left until the train would be pulling in the station. The sound of the car door sliding opened grabbed both his and Emmeline’s attention. In walked Lukas, smiling ear to ear with a bowl of whipped cream and strawberries. Noah had no idea where the kid’s fixation with strawberry flavor came from. His mother had more of a chocolate and caramel pallet while she was carrying him. “That’s YOUR child,” he said to Emmeline, noticing red dyed around his mouth from the strawberries. “How many things of those have you eaten?” Lukas sat down across from them and plucked another one from the bowl. “14. It would have been 16 but two of them were bad and Storta threw them at Nzatem.” Noah lifted his head from Emmeline. “See? Told you that you had nothing to worry about. If I didn’t get him I knew Storta would have.” Storta was one of the other house-elves that had been with the family for years. “I hope you know those are your sweets for the night. We’re having a late dinner and I don’t need to deal with you and a sugar rush.” Lukas furrowed his brow and looked at Noah who shrugged. “Sometimes moms are mean because they have to be.” He then jumped as he felt one of Emmeline’s knuckles go into the side of his ribcage. “Correction: Because they know what’s best.”

[Kaydence Morgan]

Kaydence had been so damn content with her life in Sweden. It had somehow provided the peace that she had always wanted for herself. Noah had bought them a sprawling estate two years after she had Lukas. The penthouse downtown simply wasn’t big enough for an expanding family anymore. Plus, the fact that it was surrounded by windows scared the shit out of her. The glass provided very real dangers for her and her family. Although magically tinted, Kaydence was still convinced that anyone who really wanted to try to look in, could. “So we’ll buy curtains,” Noah had suggested. And they did. He had given Kaydence a few hundred galleons to go out shopping. She did manage to find some expensive French linen ones in Noah’s favorite color dark green. They had given her slight hope. After placing them on the rods, she enchanted both sides to sew themselves together at night time when they were all getting ready for bed or during particularly sunny mornings. It did the trick for a little while, but Kaydence’s paranoia was still a real thing. As Lukas got older, her anxiety got worse. She always did her best to hold it together in front of Noah. He had repeatedly asked why she was so worried. Even with the curtains, he had security warlocks on guard 24/7. They were as protected as they could possibly be.

Eventually though, it simply wasn’t enough. One night, after she had put Lukas to bed, she had found Noah in his office. “Noah.” He stopped writing on whatever papers were in front of him and looked at her. “Yes, my kärlak?” He had given her that nickname long ago. “Noah, I want to move. I think we need to take Lukas and move out to the country. I’d think he flourish more in bigger space. Plus, I’m tired of the hustle and bustle of the city. I want land and nature.” As much as she tried to avoid thinking about her former life, Kaydence wanted a house just like Morgan Manor. A sprawling lake-side estate that had more rooms then necessary and no neighbors around for miles upon miles. She liked privacy. The further away from people they were, the safer. Noah had too much money to be sitting around in this penthouse. Getting their first family home wouldn’t even put a dent in his pockets. “I’m ready to make memories, watch Lukas play in a yard, pick the paint for our bedroom.” Noah squinted at her, “What’s wrong with green?” She rolled her eyes. “Nothing,” she paused, “except it needs to be a darker color.” He had laughed. “You’ve never asked me to fix the colors of my bedroom,” he teased. “How do you know I won’t let you do it now?” Rolling her eyes, Kaydence stepped towards his desk and put her hands down on the edge of it. “Because I don’t want to do it now Noah. I don’t want to redo a penthouse. I want to redo a house.” She watched as he thought to himself for a moment before he reached over to his golden cigarette box and pulled out one of his hand-rolled cigarettes. The silence remained as he brought his hand to his cigarette and snapped, causing it to instantly light.

As he took his first puff, he beckoned her over to him. She obliged, turning the corner of the opposite end and taking a seat on his lap. His arms moved to her waist as her own draped around his neck. Making a noise at her, Kaydence took the cigarette out of his mouth and moved it to his opposite side. Noah turned his head, exhaling. “Find one and I’ll put an offer in.” She half-expected him to have complained about selling his penthouse. She would always catch him late at night standing near the bedroom landscape looking across the city where she would occasionally join him, coming up behind and wrapping her arms around his long torso and resting her chin on his shoulder. She also half-expected him to say yes. There hadn’t ever been a time in which he had told her no. Smiling, she brought the cigarette to her lips and took a celebratory puff. Emmeline leaned in to him and rested her nose on his briefly. “I’ll have Mikkhal bring you the papers to go over tomorrow.” Extending her hand backwards, she dropped the still smoking stick down to ashtray her muscle memory had led her. Bringing it back, Kaydence brought it to his cheek as she planted a kiss on his soft lips. Then, as he pulled her in a little closer, she dropped it even further down to his belt buckle and began slowly undoing the clasp.

She disappeared once again but only briefly this time. A small smile formed on her lips as Kaydence thought about the office rendezvous. They had always had fun in there. Although one of the most stressful places in the penthouse for him, it was also the most rewarding as he liked to say. “You’re the second person to ask me that in less than 10 minutes. He knows the repercussions for scaring Lukas again.” She rolled her eyes and briefly recalled how long it took to convince Lukas to try spaghetti again after that fiasco. He still stared at it for a few minutes before eating it now. The young boy sauntered in not too long after, his face covered in strawberries. Every time Kaydence saw him eating anything strawberry flavored it always triggered inexplicable uneasiness. Brief reminders of the past she couldn’t seem to erase no matter how hard she tried. “That’s YOUR child.” She laughed. If he meant by stuffing his face with food he was right. She watched lovingly at the exchange between the two that followed. Any time she saw the two interact she fell in love with them both all over again. Despite his features more closely matching her own, everything else about Lukas belonged to Noah especially the weird quirk they both shared with numbers. “See? Told you had nothing to worry about. Even if I didn’t get him I knew Storta would.” Kaydence turned her attention to her son. “I hope you know those are your sweets for the night. We’re having a late dinner and I don’t need to deal with you and a sugar rush.” She knew he wouldn’t like that and sure enough he turned his gaze to his father. “Sometimes moms are mean because they have to be.” She edged her knuckle into his ribcage. “Correction: Because they know best.” She widened her eyes at their son. “Your father knows what’s up.”

For the remainder of the train ride, Kaydence kept her position in Noah’s arms. She remained silent for the rest of the journey, vaguely listening to the excited conversation Noah and Lukas were having about wizarding cards. Vienna was only getting closer and closer. The feeling of dread had completely overtaken her. She silently cursed herself for not putting up a bigger fight about leaving, but she had just felt so goddamn guilty. The man never asked her for anything with the exception of some alone time and whether she had thought her engagement ring was a big enough diamond. He had never questioned anything about her. He respected her privacy, almost too much. The thought though, of the argument that would ensue after revealing why she didn’t actually want to go to Austria, was more painful then having to physically be there. She had agreed but only later on in the night when her conscience had completely betrayed her. Kaydence’s lips set into a line as she began to slowly spin the band around her ring finger. She had tried to tell herself over and over that it was the right thing to do, for him, for once. Yet there was never a time when her mind responded with negativity. It didn’t matter the outcome, being in Austria was not a good idea. However, she still told him yes and she didn’t think that what she was feeling now would subside until they have left once and for all.

Kaydence swore that only a few more minutes had past before she felt the train begin to slow down. Mikkhal entered the car from the same door Lukas had returned from and nodded his head. “We’re arriving sir. The portkeys have been set up and we must make sure to leave quickly. The help will see to the baggage.” She felt Noah straighten his back. “Make sure my eyes are out,” he said to the man. His assistant nodded again and left from once he came. Noah’s arms moved to her back as he slowly pushed her from him. Squeezing her knee, he stood up and walked over to the chair where he had been playing wizard’s chess with Lukas earlier. “Lukas start gathering your things in your bag. Emmeline you should probably get yours ready as well.” Kaydence turned away as he began to slide his arms into a casual black dinner jacket. She remained silent as she summoned her random odds and ends that she had taken out during the trip, including her hand mirror and a small book. As the last things had gathered, she kept her sunglasses out as everything else zipped up. A small disguise but cover nonetheless. Looking over to her son, she pointed to her own. “Please.” She didn’t ask but firmly requested. Lukas rolled his eyes and grabbed a smaller pair of his father’s. Kaydence looked back over to Noah and smiled as he examined his reflection in the mirror. For a meeting that apparently held a lot of galleons at risk, he seemed awfully casual for the occasion. It gave her slight reassurance that he wasn’t getting his hands into that much trouble. She was always more worried when he was decked out to the nines before leaving for three days.

The chugging sound became less and less until it had stopped completely. Noah walked over to her, extending his hand with a smile. “Let’s go my love." Kaydence hesitated. Taking his hand would only somehow make things realer than they already were. He waited. Closing her eyes, she sighed very deeply before gingerly placing her hand in his own. He grasped it and pulled her up, placing his hand to the small of her back as he did so. “It’ll be alright,” he whispered, yet again placing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “We’ll be out of here before you know it.” Noah then kissed her temple and put slight pressure on her back, urging her to begin moving. Pushing the glasses as far as she could onto her face, she planted her hand on Lukas’ shoulder and began to follow him out. It was a good thing she had placed the glasses on her eyes as the sun smacked rays straight onto their bodies as the car opened to the outside. Still, Kaydence wound up covering them as she was helped down the steps to where the group of security warlocks hired to guard her and Lukas were waiting. She could see the excitement on his face, looking around at all the new sights and sounds. It did nothing to ease the nausea she suddenly felt. As she was stopped, she felt Noah come back against her. She dropped her arm, looking to him and he kissed and winked down at her. “8 o’clock.” She could feel whatever it was in her stomach rumble up as he said goodbye to their son. “All hands in!” Already? Her hands moved themselves to the trashcan lid as everyone around her did the same, making sure to hold Lukas’ hand tightly as it was his first time travelling by Portkey ever. Only a moment later, she heard a loud pop and her body was hurtling itself into space.

Her feet touched ground and everything stopped. Opening her eyes, Kaydence found herself near the woods not too far away from Ilfracombe Condominiums, a place she had never expected to have to see again. Almost on cue the hidden scars on her shoulders begin to hurt, or at least she thought they did. Panicking, she turned around to see Lukas sitting on the ground. She dropped to her knees and placed her hands on the sides of his face. “Darling! Are you okay?!” The little boy giggled in response as the red dye in his face looked dirtier than ever. “Whoa…that was cool!” Suddenly, she could feel her stomach about to flow over. Quickly turning her head, she opened her mouth as vomit carried up her throat and onto the ground. “Ewww Mom. Gross!” She continued for another few seconds as she felt a man’s hand on her back. “Emmeline? Are you alright?” The second time she had been asked that in an hour. Batting Mikkhal’s hand away, she responded, “I’m fine I’m fine.” Her head was pounding though she wasn’t sure if the ache was coming from travelling or an oncoming panic attack. Kaydence sat back on her knees for a moment before pushing herself from the ground and helping Lukas off of it himself. She dusted the back of his shirt and pants before straightening the backpack that had been thrown askew across his shoulders. Exhaling deeply, she fixed her glasses and grabbed her son’s hand. “Well. Get us settled in then.” The head of the group nodded and began to lead the group up a hill towards the condominiums. Squeezing Lukas’ hand a little tighter, Kaydence braced herself for the storm she feared was heading their way.

[Noah Eklund]

Noah rubbed at the area Emmeline prodded at briefly before wrapping his arm back around her torso. “So, back to our conversation earlier,” he started, looking down at strawberry boy, “are you going to do your old dad proud and start saving those wizarding cards like we talked about?” Lukas shrugged, popping another berry into his mouth. “Yeah. The cool guys. The ones I don’t like I’ve just been throwing away.” Noah threw up a hand. “What? I told you Lukas. You save for value not personal preference in personality.” The two bantered for some time. He honestly hadn’t known how much until Mikkhal’s voice disrupted their conversation. “We’re arriving sir. The portkeys have been set up and we must make sure to leave quickly. The help will see to the baggage.” Noah straightened himself up. “Make sure my eyes are out. “ As Mikkhal left, he gently pulled away from Emmeline and stood up. He walked over to his chair from earlier and lifted his casual, but still stupid expensive, dinner jacket from the back of it. “Lukas start gathering your things in your bag. Emmeline you should probably do that same.” After placing the jacket over his shoulders, he walked around the car, making sure his own bag was in order.

The train soon came to a halt. Opening the right side of his coat jacket, stared at the black lining and snapped. Although nothing changed, Noah grabbed the bag from his seat and effortlessly stuck it into the much more spacious pocket he had enchanted. He walked to Emmeline and Lukas’ seat. The boy in the cool sunglasses stood up while his mother remained sitting. He really couldn’t understand why she looked so scared. He had kept them safe for so long already. Why would she worry now about it? He offered her his hand. “Let’s go my love.” He waited, but a little less patiently this time. He wasn’t late to meetings. Eventually she moved and took his hand. As she stood, he lowered it to her back. “It’ll be alright,” he assured, moving his finger to a loose stray hair and tucking it behind her ear. “We’ll be out of here before you know it.” Noah kissed her temple then gently pressed his fingertips into her skin. She began moving, Lukas soon after and the family of three got off of the train. The sun was blinding and he stopped briefly to pull his own sunglasses from his pocket. As his vision became less blurry, he quickly looked around the station. Not sure of what he was looking for but making certain nothing stood out that wasn’t supposed to.

Satisfied, he quickly walked to the group containing his fiancée, son, assistant and security guards. "8 o'clock," he promised with a wink. Leaning down, he placed a kiss on the top of Lukas’ head. “Be good for your mother. 8 o’clock,” he playfully demanded, wiping a piece of strawberry from the boy’s cheek in the process. Walking away from his family, he looked toward his head of security. “Straight to the condo and nowhere else. Have Mihkkal set up a portkey for my return from Drear Alley. I want him waiting with it for me the minute I’m done. Understood?” The man nodded. "Go." His head of security turned towards the group containing his fiancée, son, assistant and three other security warlocks. “All hands in!” He yelled. Before they had even disappeared, Noah had turned his back and began walking with the second in command of his guards. He had to make sure to have as little public interaction with his family as he could. All it would take would be the wrong pair of eyes to know two things he kept complete secret from the world. “Security is tight? No ooglers on the premises?” he asked as he began following the man.

[Ashton Wentworth]

Patience had never been a strong suit of Ashtons. The man was more than known for his temper. Violent outbursts that made it had for most people to tolerate being around him for too long of period - let alone how nearly unbelievable that it had been for nearly all who had known him growing up that he had landed a stable job - and had done, very well for himself. Publically - he was now just about the scum that everybody thought that he was. He had to unlist his house, move in and out under secrecy or cover of darkness. More often than not he was traveling - moving in that seedy, sometimes downright disgusting underbelly of Austria and it’s dark market connections to have created a second, infamous reputation for himself. It wasn’t something that he had wanted. Ashton had never asked for fame or glory - he had wanted to do his job. Timing had pushed him in the directions that he had needed to go. Started with the infamy of being half of the team to have brought down Isis Moswen - the start of a long, long laundry list of shining accomplishments. Paired with the fact that he was glib, handsome and usually refused to make any sort of press comments. That whole ‘bad boy’ mystery air sent people coming after him in droves. If anything about this stupid, life upending assignment was good, at least those things were no longer happening. This assignment meant that he could hardly go out in public without being threatened to be arrested for treason. Really, he should have chosen this whole thing as a retirement plan. He was getting older now - and it would have been a perfect excuse to stay inside and drink himself into oblivion.


There had been a point, some handful of years ago where Ashton had considered doing exactly that. Warren had relapsed for the first time since their teenaged years, a large, massive failure at a second attempt at a relationship had blown up in his face, or perhaps more accurately, faded away like it had never even existed in the first place. Bad life choices paired with alcoholism and lack of - anything at all better to do had pushed Ashton into living at work. The house he had spent years restoring had started to fall to ruin again because he had never been there - didn’t keep up with something that had held nothing but absolutely horrible memories all the time. Big, empty house and he felt too small to be inside of it. Assignment after assignment - it wasn’t hard to rise in those shallow ranks toward the head of his department. A handful of times Ashton had considered switching things up - transferring departments or even Ministry buildings entirely when Austria nearly got to be too much. Of course he had things keeping him here - a brother who needed support. Even when that support more often than not was just a place for him to put his drugged up head for the evening with that trash he tended to drag around. Elle had gotten him into more trouble over the years than Grace ever had. Pushing those needles into his spine - she had become...obsessed. Something inside of her had fractured so many years ago that no amount of rehab was going to fix her. Ashton had thought - that when Warren had gotten clean that last time, sobered up and gotten married. Really married - to one of the only sane, smart and actually decent females that Ashton had ever met - and then Elle had gotten involved again and ruined all of that too. Relapsed something horrible with a drug that the ministry still had yet to find the source of - these six or so years later. No matter how many times Ashton had tried to hunt him down - nothing had ever worked to clean him up. Now Ashton was stuck - supporting too many families under the radar that had nothing to do with him - and he had wanted to walk away from it all. Frustrated and angry...to the point of nearing a mental breakdown some four years ago. Constantly exhausted. Working all the time and when he wasn’t working - everything just hurt. Warren’s wife and their baby - who she had to keep away from all things Warren related for such obvious reasons...which left it to fall on Ashton to mediate. He had wanted, so very badly to do the selfish thing. To just - walk away.


Then, naturally, the girl that he had been messing around with for work - found out that she was pregnant.



The subject of children was something so close to him - that it wasn’t even possible for him to discuss. Ashton had taken time off work - no doubt poor girl had thought that he had up and abandoned her - leaving her to fend for their child all on her own. Looking back, warning her would have likely been a far kinder thing for him to do...he just hadn’t been thinking at the time. He had lost...too many children that should have been his own. Getting married for the first time at such a young age - all of those close calls from stupid choices over the years and Ashton had finally decided that it just wasn’t something that was ever going to happen for him. Wasn’t sure if he even wanted something like that for himself anymore - the shell of himself that he had become. He was, truly lucky that the woman wasn’t the sort of be left behind or to take no for an answer. Ashton had just needed time - to process everything. To pull himself out of his downward spiral, to pull his house back from the edge of destruction that it had gotten to - to process ...every single other part of his life. Looking back now he could see that while he had had good intentions at the time - he had handled it all wrong. Woman showing up in the middle of the night - boxing him about the head neck and shoulders while reminding him in a very loud, repeated manner that not only was he an idiot, but that he was also stupid - and that she had pregnancy hormones to satisfy whether he liked it or not.



Bumpy road to start to say the least - but they had managed to figure some things out. Scheduling between the both of their very fast paced jobs - and the pair of them had ended up choosing to take a full 18 months off of work to figure things out. Not to miss any important milestones. To handle the important bits of work from their respective houses and hammer out schedules, legal matters and the like. They had tried to make it into a relationship. They had tried to force themselves into that family box that would have made things a million times easier for the both of them - and would never forget the way that she had confronted him in the kitchen one night. In the middle of one of their arguments - and she had started laughing. The sort where she couldn’t stop and her side ached. Near fallen over the table and for as mad as he had gotten - she was so consumed in her fit of giggles he hadn’t been able to stop himself from joining in. She had declared that it was simply absurd for the both of them to keep attempting to be traditional - whenever neither one of them was capable of that. At the very least not with one another. After that - things had gotten easier. Was simpler to speak to her, easier to be honest with her even more as the twins had grown - because of course they had had not one, but two children. Little boy, and a little girl. Both had tried so desperately to come out at the same time - and she had refused to ever tell him which one was in fact older. Something that was no doubt going to continue for the rest of both of their lives to eliminate that competition. Ashton had been raised around - countless other children and knew the level of tiny things that children would use as leverage. Inside of foster homes. Outside of foster homes. In the orphanage itself. Even though he had never had a biological siblings himself - he considered himself to have had one. At least - if nothing else, his children were going to grow up beside Warren’s son - for better or worse.


For that stability in one aspect of his life - all of the others had fallen further to bits. It seemed like a constant juggling battle to keep the rest in place. Not at all financially - but to keep himself motivated to find bigger and better things - he had always wanted children, even if his heart wasn’t willing to admit that verbally to any other living soul - it had been something he had wanted. With each one that he lost - it was just a dream that was stronger and stronger while also moving further and further away. Having had to leave them at three and a half years old - not knowing what they were doing at this moment, what their current favorite color was - whether they were still getting along in their little secret language - it hurt. They had both agreed, whenever he had chosen to take this assignment - that the reward was well worth the risk. Money. Years closer to permanent retirement should he ever choose to do that - trust funds for all children in his life among so many other benefits. Promotions and his choice of transfer to be the smaller of the list - not to mention it was a challenge. He liked challenges. Couldn’t be this level of stubborn without it.


Strange sort of life events to have lead him to today. Ashton had been seated here so long that his ass hurt. Seated in the same spot - reading the same three papers, trading faces between bathroom breaks to keep from being auspicious. He knew that Noah was arriving today - he just didn’t know what time. Knew that he was arriving by train, because he had been watching. Ashton wasn’t going to waste his time showing up to a meeting if Noah never even arrived in the country. Would have found something else to occupy his time - or he simply would have followed that trail until he found Noah himself. This - was simpler. This was easier for the both of them. Train after train had come and gone. He had watched each and every body leaving this station either traditionally or otherwise. No differences until he notices security guards arriving a train ahead and combing through the station - no doubt looking for people doing exactly what it was that he was doing. Annoying - because changing his face was itchy, and it was warm enough outside as it was. Ashton watched as they searched the exits and secured the perimeters, setting up that port key from the side entrance no doubt for their oh so special guest. Who - as luck would have it arrived precisely on time. There he was - plain as day. Confirmed - and now Ashton could allow the blood to return to his damned legs. Unremarkable how he exited the train - Ashton watched with little interest as he was only here to confirm that it was in fact who he was looking for - and that he was in fact planning on staying in the country long enough for their meeting. Distracted only by the fact that his hand was linked to a female that exited the train gracefully behind him - that giant rock catching the sunlight, and her other hand attached to that of a young boy. Tall for his age but no older than ten...if he was even that old.


Not only had Noah not come alone - he had brought his whole family. Why. What purpose did that serve for him? It was putting one’s family at risk to have them exposed to things like this. Not only did Noah have the reputation for not going to very meetings in person - but when he did it was always alone save for a guard or two - which really, was only practical. The fact that he had brought his entire family...was very suspect to Ashton. This wasn’t a vacation destination. The lot of them covered in matching sunglasses. Ashton tracked them with his eyes, there was something familiar about the way that Noah’s wife walked...but he couldn’t place it. The young boy seemed to catch his toe on the uneven cobblestone pavement - something that people like himself were used to and accounted for - but the boy was no doubt out of practice. Stumbling, he glanced down at his feet to right himself, the glasses falling from his face as the woman’s grip on his hand tightened, lifting him right back upright.


”Lukas!” She nearly whispered sternly, had Ashton not been paying such attention he never would have heard it. ”Careful!” She bent elegantly, swooping those sunglasses up and popping them right back over his eyes in one swift movement. Something about the way that she spoke...sent shivers down Ashton’s spine. Why was that familiar? She didn’t look...anything like anybody he knew but then again, he was so far away. ”Please!” She implored and the boy double stepped to catch up to his mother's long legged stride, turning down that side entrance to where Ashton had seen them setting up the port key moments ago. He couldn’t place it - that strange twisting inside of his gut. He wanted to follow that grouping so much more than he was comfortable admitting. Uneasy because he couldn’t follow them - he couldn’t risk being seen as an interested party by any of those guardians that were in Noah’s employ - but he couldn’t deny the shaken feeling that was growing worse with each moment he sat inactive.