Leaning on the counter, Angelina smiled at Astoria, completely ignoring the dark-haired witch beside her. "It's the biscuits, isn't it? People just can't get enough of them. Hannah's going to have to hire another baker with the amount of meals you've been having here lately."

Throwing a playful glare over her shoulder when Kris bumped her hip as she passed, Angelina turned back to Astoria. "Something specific you had in mind?"

"Just a croissant, some pumpkin juice, and whatever you'd like if you can join me."

Eyebrows raising towards her hairline, Angelina tossed a look around the bakery. It wasn't too busy, and she was due for a break. "Hey Kris-"

"Yeah. Take it."

Laughing, Angelina nodded, turning back to Astoria. "You pick a table, I'll get us something sweet."


Astoria went and sat at her table by the window.

"She totally just asked you out, Angie," Kristen whispered. "This is a date."

"This is lunch," Angelina said with a roll of her eyes. She'd brushed off the things people had said about Astoria coming in to talk to her. She was a friend, and Kristen was trying to see things that weren't really there. Or that she wanted to be there, which Angelina didn't understand. Maybe Kristen's trying to live vicariously through me. How dull. She should go for Hannah and Blaise. With the way those two are around each other, it'd be much more exciting.

"What, you don't think I'm just really good conversation," she said to Kristen as she gathered Astoria's meal.

"She looks at you like you're really good pillow talk."

Astoria turned and wondered what Angelina and Kristen were speaking about. Astoria was amused. The younger woman was more wise now for working with the public. She saw more than people thought.

"Maybe I am." Winking at Kristen, Angelina piled their lunch on a tray and headed over to the table. "Mrs. Dolohov, this bakery is full of nosy people, did you know that?"

"I did, actually. Though it's that they like you and are concerned. My name is Astoria, by the by. Please sit."

Astoria smiled when Angelina sat down.

"I suppose they mention I eat here a bit."

"Well, you do come by pretty often." Angelina sipped from her glass of pumpkin juice before smiling at Astoria. "Not that I mind. I like the company. Plus... you make everything a bit brighter." Angelina loved her job. She liked the constant flow of new people, talking up the customers, but Astoria was a bit different. She seemed like she knew more than others, and Angelina liked trying to figure her out.

Astoria smiled and looked away shyly.

"I like your company as well. The place is bright whether I am in it or not. It hums and glows happiness. I suppose it is aptly named. The Mother Hearth takes everyone in and treats them as her family. Her loyalty is unshakable. I like that. I like being around that sort of energy. I like being around you. Your mere presence comforts me." Too far? Being too strange?

"It's always nice to be a comfort to people," Angelina said. Sometimes she wasn't quite sure what Astoria was saying, but it sounded pretty coming out. "So how's the Ministry? No one's giving you any trouble, I hope."

"No, not there. I suppose I should tell you before you hear it elsewhere. I was attacked by Aaron Montague. I'm sure you recall him. I'm all right. Healer Weasley has the magic touch, but he did a good work-over on me. It's one of the reasons I wanted to see you. You're my calm, you know."

Angelina was sure her face had darkened. She'd played Quidditch against Aaron Montague in school. She knew what he was capable when there were referees about. It wasn't hard to imagine what he could do if there were no one around to reign him in. "Why? When?"

"Daphne's hiding Christian Warrington somewhere. I don't know where, but he did stay at my flat one night after Montague tried to kill him. It was this past Saturday. He'll do it again. One time he'll do it in the wrong place and pay. Dearly."

"No." Angelina shook her head. "No." She'd seen more than her fair share of friends hurt. Astoria was so small, so delicate looking. The idea of Aaron Montague's hands being on Astoria made Angelina angry. He doesn't deserve to even breathe the same air as someone like her.

Astoria slid her hand across the table and grabbed Angelina's hand. "Look at me. Angelina? Look at me. Aaron Montague won't be able to kill me on his best day." Because the next time he comes around, I am luring him to Knockturn and to Marcus.

Angelina shook her head again. "I've known other very capable witches who've said the same thing. No one is indestructible, Astoria. No one."

"Oh, I know I'm not. I'm being careful." Astoria squeezed Angelina's hand. "But he is not the one who puts out my light."

"You're not being very careful if you know it'll happen again," Angelina answered with a frown. "I don't want to hear about any lights getting put out. Period. I don't like thinking about you hurt." Somehow, in the frequent visits the blond made to the bakery, she'd become more than just a customer who happened to listen to Angelina drone on. Astoria actually seemed to care when she talked, and Angelina liked that. She liked that a lot.

"Angelina, some things are meant to be. I could move, I could avoid the places. It won't change anything. This happens. It happens how it happens. Nothing can change that. He wounds me, but he does not break me. The very idea that I keep him from something he wants delights me to no end."

Angelina pulled her hand from Astoria's slowly. "Then I'm happy for you." Since Alicia, Angelina had thought very hard about death. She hated the darkness after living in it for so long. She associated brightness with Astoria and the fact that someone could even dim her a bit was upsetting. The fact that someone younger than her was speaking so cavalier about getting hurt, knowing that is was unavoidable, made her frown. Having someone she actually and honestly liked talk about it so cavalier wasn't any better.

"Please do not be cross with me," Astoria said, feeling just miserable that she had wounded Angelina. "I would not want to keep something like that from you. If you would like me to go, I will."

"No! No... I'm not... you're here for croissants, Astoria. You're here for Hannah's sweets and you can't get that anywhere else. I just don't like hearing about you getting hurt, in the present or future." Angelina frowned slightly. She really didn't like hearing about it. Her stomach was in small knots at the thought.

Astoria scooted her chair until she was sitting right next to Angelina. She pushed the other woman's hair back a little.

"You're worried about me. I like that. Not that you're worried, but that you care enough to bother."

Angelina turned and looked at Astoria, her mouth turning down at the corners. "Of course I worry about you. You're a friend." She was a friend. Wasn't she? They'd had lunch or early dinner together, with Astoria doing most of the eating, for weeks now. She was a friend, and that was one of the reasons she loathed the idea of harm befalling Astoria. She didn't like her friends getting hurt.

Her eyebrows furrowed a bit when Astoria pushed a bit more hair from her forehead. "I worry about all my friends."

She doesn't know. Astoria just smiled at her. "Of course you do. Because you're lovely." You are the opposite of Marcus.

Angelina smiled back at Astoria, probably a bit lopsided. It'd been so long since someone had looked at her with genuine affection like that. Touched her. She'd missed it. Astoria was reminding her a bit of Alicia. Pretty eyes, just like Ali. She jumped when there was a muffled cough from behind them. Angelina spun around in her chair and blinked at Kristen with wide eyes.

"If you need to go, it's all right," Astoria said. "Perhaps we could meet sometime when you are not working. We'd have more time to talk."

Turning back to Astoria, Angelina was sure her face showed a small look of shock. "Sunday is usually the only day I'm not working or dancing, and I usually spend it working out. Not that I can't not work out and take the day. I can." Why are you fumbling with your words?

"I would like that, but I don't want to disrupt your schedule."

"No! It's not... you wouldn't be disrupting my schedule, I promise. It'd be nice to go out, I think. I'd like that. I haven't been out with people since..." she trailed off. "It's been a long time." Months.

"Excellent. Shall I meet you somewhere or pick you up at home?"

Kristen gave Angelina a look.

"Um... we can meet someplace. What did you want to do?" Shut up, Kristen. Shut up.

"The Blue Owl? I'll make reservations. I think dinner might be nice."

Kristen raised her eyebrows at Angelina.

Angelina glared at Kristen over Astoria's shoulder. "I think the Blue Owl might be a little out of my price range."

"Who said you are paying for it?"

Kristen folded her arms across her chest and gave Angelina a look. She mouthed the word date.

Angelina focused on Astoria's face, ignoring Kristen as much as she could. "I don't know if I'd feel comfortable with you paying for my dinner. I've been making a bit in tips, I could probably swing the Owl."

"I wouldn't want to put you out. Would Gulliver's Glen be more agreeable? Or how about you choose. I would like to treat though. We'll go where you feel comfortable."

Comfortable might not be an option at this point. What is going on here? If Kristen was right... and Astoria thought this a date... how did she miss this? Had she been sending signals? Had Astoria been sending signals and Angelina had just missed them all? "Gulliver's sounds good for me, actually. I'm not really a expensive restaurant type of girl."

"Duly noted. I'll see you Sunday at six then?"

"O-Okay." Angelina stood when Astoria did. "Sunday at six."

Astoria put her tip on the table and bowed slightly before leaving.

"She totally just asked you out," Kristen said, as if Angelina was not aware.

"I'm not... I don't under..." She turned to look at Kristen with a glare. "It's just dinner with a friend." It is. It's just dinner with a friend.

Kristen made a face at her and shook her head before walking off. 



SUMMARY: Astoria has lunch with Angelina, and they make plans to meet for dinner in a few days - as friends. The denial has set up camp again.