Closed It's Time

[Cyndi Kingsley]

Even though magic would have easily rid the creaking noises from her favorite rocking chair, Cyndi didn't bother to do anything about it. She rather liked the noise, believing it added some more character to an item that already held a great deal of sentimental value for the woman. She sat, watching the sun set, a glass of wine on the small little table right beside her chair, the bottle on the counter in her kitchen. It was a Friday night, and this was a far cry from what a thirty years younger version of her might have, but she was content with this quiet life. Retired from teaching, time spent running a nonprofit that helped members of the magical world find their way into jobs and careers. It was a pleasant life. She had her three children who visited fairly often, her grandchildren who brought immense joy to her life.

But the woman was keeping a secret from most people in her life. She'd taken great pains to maintain the secret during an earlier visit from her children, and she was fairly certain she'd done a good job at it. Checking the time, the woman smiled as she rose from her chair and went into the kitchen, returning with the bottle and another glass, this one empty. She set them down beside the other chair on her porch before returning to her seat. As she continued to watch the sun set, the woman was sitting up just a little straighter, listening for something. Perhaps it would be a crack, perhaps something else. She never knew what to expect these days.

 

[Cameron Kingsley]

Cameron rubbed a hand across the scruff on his face before checking the time on his watch for the third time in the last half hour. Timing was an essential part of his evening plans, and really, his timing needed to be perfect. Merlin knows he needed to make up for all the times it wasn't. Especially with this particular woman. Buttoning up the cuffs on his sleeves, Cameron glanced at his reflection in the mirror. The grey was showing in his beard. Picking up his wand, he nodded at himself in the mirror before striding out of the room.

With a pop in the air, Cameron apparated to a familiar location. With a small smile, he made his way up the stone path until his icy blue eyes met hers. A grin spread across his face. "Hi honey, expecting company?" he asked as he walked up the steps to the porch.

 

[Cyndi Kingsley]

A smile crossing her face, the woman settled into her seat as she watched the man come up the path. She could see where each of her children inherited a trait from their father; Noah's kind eyes and smile; Jacob's confident swagger; Eleanor's face structure. Their lives remained intertwined in spite of their separation and now all these years later they'd somehow found their way back together. "Maybe" she responded coyly. This time, she was confident they'd get things right. The children were all adults. Their jobs were no longer as stressful and time-consuming as they'd once been. "You're right on time" she added with a smile. Although they didn't have as much time as they once had, she knew they'd make the most of it.

 

[Cameron Kingsley]

Cameron chuckled softly as he lowered himself into the chair beside her, the familiar creak drawing another smile from him. Some things never changed. Cyndi on the porch at sunset. A glass of wine. The way her eyes sparkled in the fading light. "Of course I'm on time," he said, reaching for the bottle and pouring himself a glass. "I learned my lesson." It wasn't entirely true. He was still stubborn, still prone to throwing himself into a project and losing track of time, but these days he tried harder to show up for the important people in his life.

Settling back into the chair, he raised his glass slightly in her direction before taking a sip. The sunset painted everything in shades of gold and orange, and for a few moments he simply sat there enjoying the quiet. Years ago he probably would have felt the need to fill the silence. Now he understood that some of the best moments happened in it. His gaze drifted to her, softening.

"You know," he said, "for a while I thought we'd missed our chance." There had been plenty of reasons. A hundred wrong turns and unfortunate timings. Yet, somehow they'd ended up here anyway. "But I'm glad we didn't."Cameron reached across the small space between their chairs and rested his hand over hers. "I don't care if we get ten years or twenty. I'm just happy I get to spend them with you." His thumb brushed gently across the back of her hand as he looked back toward the horizon."Though I should probably warn you," he added with a grin, "I've got every intention of making up for lost time." Slowly, he leaned across the space that divided them and placed a lingering kiss on her lips.