It had been a rough few days for her. River had been caught between worry for Tracey, a bit of hesitation over seeing Greg, frustration over that official statement, anger at Nott for dying like that, a want to forget everything and spend time with her brother, and a bit of excitement at her coming birthday. Very, very hectic. The statement was out of the way for now, Simon was visiting his Housemate again (one she needed to look into, after he'd returned to school), and she was at Whittom Park, facing three of the other conflicting emotions now.

She was not, however, prepared to face Greg so suddenly, as she glanced into the yellow parlour on her hunt for Tracey, finding him curled up with a book. It was such a comfortable sight that she didn't move for a few moments, just watched him, imprinting it in memory. Once they had their little talk, she had no idea how he would behave, and if she never got to see him again, she wanted a few more memories to go by.

Greg could feel someone watching him. Since he had fled without a bit of remorse when Maeve and Simone has started in on the girl talk stuff again, he knew it could only be a handful of other people at the door. Rave and Lex had heeded his warning to stay home and that he would owl or call if they were needed. It could only be one person. It's Riv then, wonder if she's here to hex me for being an idiot. Without looking up from Catcher in the Rye, which was surprisingly good - if difficult for him to read, he said, "Hello, Riv, come on in."

"You knew it was me? I think I'm impressed." She had to keep this light, couldn't let it get too serious until after she'd seen Tracey. Slipping into the room and shutting the door behind her, she paused, feeling a bit awkward and regretting the closing of the door immediately. For once, she wasn't sure how to keep it easy, wanted to just lay it all out and get the horrible waiting out of the way. "Ah...I...don't want to interrupt you if you're reading. Do you...know where Trace is, if she's ok?"

Greg set the book aside and finally looked at River. Of course, was on the tip of his tongue. Did she truly think he wouldn't know when she was near? He could never remember her being this...off...before. Fuck all! My fault. I am an idiot. He waved her over, smiling slightly. "Come and talk with me. I don't think its wise for anyone to search them out just yet, Maeve and Simone I mean. They were talking about manicures and other such horrors when I grabbed my book and left."

Karma, Sod's Law, or whatever force was acting against her was mentally cursed to death as she put up a smile, taking a seat next to him and leaning back into the pillows. "I suppose I missed all the good parts then. At least she's doing a bit better, if she's talking manicures with Simone. How...how have you been holding up?"

He shrugged. "I snuck out the other night and went into London...after making sure Artanis and Luthien would come get me if Maeve needed anything. How are you doing, Riv?"

Desperately wanting to tell you I love you but too scared to do anything. "I've been better, but I will get back to that point soon enough. Nothing too interesting has happened while I've been gone?"

Greg sighed. "I should have contacted you sooner but I didn't want to ruin the entire holiday season for you." He paused, wondering if they would get back to the easy relationship they'd had before he'd done whatever it was he had that screwed everything up. No time like the present. "Riv..."

What did I do that was so wrong? How did I fuck this up? How do I fix it?

"I'm sorry for whatever I did that...screwed us up," he finished, tugging on the lock of hair that was falling in his face.

"I'm glad you contacted me at all." She sighed, now that he had started on that, there was no chance of keeping it light, easy, or simple. It was better to just get it all over with, see where things ended up after this. "It wasn't just you, it was me. I...that is to say...I mean..." She hated stumbling over her words like that, but the closer she got to laying it all out, the harder it was to form coherent sentences. After a semi deep breath, she got as close as she was going to at the moment. "Greg...if I told you I...cared about you, would it ruin everything?"

They were interrupted by the sound of the big door opening. Tracey had finally sent Simone home for good, with promises of getting together to have a day of pampering later in the week, and had gone on a search for Val. Not that she was afraid of being alone or anything. She was pleasantly surprised when she opened the door to find little River there too and had no idea what she was walking in on when she smiled and entered the room.

"Riv? You're here." She entered fully and walked across the floor to embrace her friend.

While she wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed over being interrupted before Greg could answer, River was sure that she was glad when she saw the smile on her friend's face, was glad for the hug she was given. "Trace, it's good to see you again, I was looking for you. I hope Simone kept you properly entertained?"

Greg was speechless. He just sat back and tried to process what cared about you might mean. Whatever Riv and Maeve were talking about was background noise. His mind was racing...in about ten different directions. Shaking his head, Greg stood slowly and bent over brushing a kiss on Maeve's brow and one on Riv's cheek. "I...I'll leave you to your girl talk. Riv, you still on for the club for your birthday?" he asked absently, as he crossed to the door. Just what the ruddy hell did she mean? And, what am I going to do about it?

"You're not leaving are you, Val? Do I smell bad or something? I'm not that horrible, I promise. No talking of girly things. No one explained to me about a club and I want to celebrate River's birthday too." Anything to pretend nothing is wrong. Tracey tried to mock pout - usually she got her way but by the way they were looking so awkward she finally clued in that she might have been intruding on something important. She looked between her two friends with more solemnity than mirth, "Umm... I didn't interrupt something, did I?"

Greg blindly reached for the door handle before realizing that the door was already opened. He ducked his head. "I- I need to think...not...not in a bad way..."

He looked over his shoulder, his mind bringing up the memories of his and River's time in Seattle. Not knowing what else to do - he fled.

River sighed, giving Tracey a small smile despite the light blush on her cheeks. "You didn't interrupt anything that didn't need to be interrupted, Trace. I just finally said something to Greg. In a way. I don't know." She shook her head, not sure what to make of Greg running, claiming he needed time to think. "We're going clubbing for my birthday, with Raven and Alexi. I'm sure, if you wanted to join us, you'd be quite welcome. Would you like me to owl you the details later?"

Tracey nodded absently. Little River outed her feelings and he ran away? That was just not on! She was almost tempted to turn around and follow him out to call him on being a prat, she'd hexed him before and she wasn't above doing it again, but she didn't. Instead she turned and put on a happy face. "A wizarding club I hope. I don't think I will be venturing into the Muggle world for a while, if ever." She tried not to turn her nose up at the word but the reaction was completely natural now. They were monsters who killed people with sharp pointy things instead of wands. Even if she loved their shoes, it would take a lot to get her to mingle with them again.

"I certainly hope so. I promised Greg I'd turn Raven and Alexi's hair pink, and I can't do that in a Muggle club." River couldn't help the smile that wound its way onto her face at that. "Either way, it's a good chance for us all to get completely plastered, and I rather think we need the chance for that now more than ever. Alcohol will make things better for a bit." She would just have to make sure it didn't end up like the last time she and Greg had gone clubbing, not until she had gotten some sort of answer, at least. Pushing thoughts of Greg out of her mind, she looped Tracey's arm through hers. "Well, inform me on all I've missed the past few days? I haven't seen you since Pansy's party...and I owe you a Christmas present, on that note."

Tracey winced but tried to keep the smile on her face. "You haven't missed much, River dear." Nothing much at all. Not like anyone died or anything. "I met Alexi before Christmas for the first time, seemed like a lovely bloke. I'm sure Raven is the same. And getting plastered again sounds positively brilliant. Definitely something I need to do, I think." River didn't need to know that it was becoming something Tracey had more and more experience with. Once or twice since Christmas was hardly a problem. "Though we will just have to have the boys keep us from the tattoo parlours. You and I can't be trusted and I don't particularly need another work of body art to remind me of-." She grimaced. She had managed not to say his name since Boxing Day. It physically hurt to say it, but she pushed that aside. It didn't do to dwell on things she couldn't change.

River paused, considering, before asking, "Do you want to keep your tattoos, then? Would it be easier, better, if they were gone? I'm sure we could find someone to remove them. Or would that be too much loss in too short a time period?" Well, now that she thought about it, it was really only the lotus that was directly a tattoo for Theodore Nott and that was six years old...

Tracey looked at her blankly. "No, no, they'll stay. They are more a part of me than he ever was. A reminder of both the good and bad. Why don't you and I go shopping for your birthday then. Christmas and birthday gifts, since I forgot your Christmas gift as well. I'm sorry I missed the boat on that. I am usually much better organized." I can't very well explain that I had to give her Christmas gift to someone else last minute... crazy girlfriends of best mates who I was blindsided about gifting for.

"Tomorrow is fine. Did you have anywhere in particular in mind? You'll have me until evening or until you're sick of me, whichever happens first." More time with Tracey was also less time she spent worrying over Greg's reaction, after all. "And just the two of us?"

Tracey nodded. She expected that Greg would still be staying at the Park and would keep up with his protective older brother thing, but who knew after his hasty departure. "Just the two of us. We can leave Greg at home. I was thinking France... the magical district of Paris of course, though I'm fairly open, as long as it's not in the Muggle world. Can't do that right now. But even staying here at home would be fine. We could go to Hogsmeade or Diagon too. I've been meaning to go to Flourish and Blott's for a while now. We could do it at the same time. Really, it's up to you - it's your birthday and all."

"Not Flourish and Blott's, I promised I'd take Simon before he returned to Hogwarts...perhaps we can just wander, look through whatever shops catch our interest. We can decide that before we leave tomorrow. So, now that I've properly frightened Greg away for a bit," that hurt far more than it should, "did you want me to stay a while longer or give you some time to yourself? You're probably sick of everyone fussing over you by now, yea?"

Tracey nodded and smiled- this time a real one. No one understood what it was that she needed better than little River. It must be why she was such a good assistant, she never needed to be told - she just knew. "I would actually just like to take a bubble bath. Something relaxing where I can just take a book and fall into it's imaginary world. Pretend everything is okay. Having Greg and Simone here has been a huge help, but I've- well, I've actually snuck out since they've come over. Went to Blaise's house for a little breather." She looked seriously at the younger girl. "But you're not allowed to tell Greg about that. He'd be so hurt and think that I needed a break from him when it wasn't anything that he could do anyway. He's been brilliant. Wonderful and caring and just perfect. I just... yes, you know what I need? I need shopping."

She flipped her long hair behind her back and continued, "Why don't we just plan on wandering around Diagon tomorrow. I'm sure something will catch our eye. I'll head to the book store in the new year, or I'll just owl order - Merlin knows I don't need another run in with that cow Granger. Besides, if I'm going out with you all I will need something to wear. In between shopping for your Christmas and birthday presents you can help me pick out something to make Greg's eyes bulge out of his head while he tries to conjure things to cover me up all night."

"If he does talk to me again, I assure you, you escaping will be on the bottom of the topic list." She paused then, making sure she had heard right, before looking at Tracey curiously. "Another run in with Granger? When did the first one happen? Please tell me you hexed her." She had never liked the Golden Trio, especially back in their school days, and it continued on even now, after she hadn't seen them in four years. It was one of the few reasons she was glad she was a year behind Tracey and Greg and the others, she never had to take any classes with those three Gryffindors.

"Oh, I wish I'd hexed her. Wouldn't that have been a glorious end to such an insufferable know-it-all? No, it was a few months ago and all I did was ask for a bloody book, but she was a complete bitch about it. I don't know why I was surprised. Anyway, she's probably thought nothing of it since and I'm the fool for allowing it to keep me from my book shop. She can't work there all the time, right?" Tracey smirked, "So it's settled, you and I spend tomorrow together - without Greg. I've a right mind to go find him now and ask him what he's on about... running away like that. He obviously doesn't remember any of Pansy's lessons. Bottle things up - carry on as though nothing is wrong - deal with it (or don't deal with it) later. I'm fairly certain running away wasn't on the list of appropriate Slytherin behaviour. People think we're cowards that way."

"We may not be Gryffindors, but we are certainly not cowards. We've just been through more than most anyone else," she said, shaking her head. No, that was the wrong thing to say, it would just bring up unpleasant memories for the both of them. "Let's go find you a book for your bath then, shall we?"

"Thanks, Riv." Tracey smiled gratefully as they walked toward the library. She was going to settle this mess between Greg and River if it was the last thing she did. She needed a distraction anyway, and if she was clubbing, drinking and carrying on she no doubt could give her older brother the push he needed to see what was right in front of his face.. though he'd never been one to easily shift from the whole 'sister' thing he'd fit them all into. Thankfully, it worked for the two of them... but with River, well that just wasn't going to work.

(Summary: Eight years late, River finally says something to Greg. He runs, leaving Tracey and River to talk.)