Not Quite Christmas Yet

[Sara Moon]

She'd made honey roasted pork. God she hoped he liked it. Sara had always enjoyed cooking, but it felt like there was an added pressure when she was cooking for Mason. It had been three months now. Three months since that fateful night in the Leaky Cauldron when she'd made her awkward, accidental admission. She wouldn't call Mason her boyfriend, somehow the word didn't seem to fit him, and they'd never really had that discussion. This world was uncharted territory for her, she'd never cared this much before. As she gave the kitchen a final glance before going to get ready, she noted an excited nervousness manifesting itself in that old familiar stomach-fluttering. The meal was nearly cooked, dessert was in the fridge waiting to be served. Everything was fine. Her holidays would be spent in Ireland and this would probably be the last time she saw him before her time off began. She'd see him in work, but it wasn't really the same. They weren't keeping their relationship a secret by any means, but neither were they advertising it. She couldn't see how it was anyone else's business. Applying her makeup, she was very aware of the time. She'd told Mason to arrive at eight. This would be the first time she'd ever cooked for him, and she wanted it to go well.

The final touches of her outfit were finished, and the meat was smelling delicious. She'd assembled a salad, and there were new potatoes to accompany the dish. The table was set, everything was ready. It felt ridiculous that after dating Mason for a while, she was still nervous about seeing him. She hadn't told Kate or her family that she was dating him yet. She couldn't imagine how her Dad would react. He'd always asked about her love-life, but had seemed oddly comforted by her lack of one, as though it reaffirmed the fact that she would always be his little girl. With Kate getting married and having a child, he'd always seemed feel safe in the fact that Sara was a confirmed spinster. He'd be happy for her, but probably a little sad too. Her mother would be relieved. She worried that work had kept Sara from having a personal life of any note. In the end, her working life was the reason she was in this position now. She'd met Mason through work, gotten to know him through work. For Merlin's sake, she'd confessed to her feelings at a work party. Well, sort of. She hadn't really meant to confess. It was the next day that the real conversation had taken place. Quite fortunately, they'd been largely on the same page. Neither of them had felt hiding would do any good, but that discretion could go a long way. Mason Talarico was a good man, and she didn't want his association with her to cause him any difficulty. Complications in her own life, she could deal with; she was the one who'd set them on this path after all. Somehow though, when she was this happy, it was hard to imagine anything bad coming out of something which brought her so much joy.

 

[Mason Talarico]

The man had had every intention of arriving on time to Sara's home. Really he had. He'd even managed to leave the office early, by his standards anyway. But, before he'd really stopped to consider it, Mason had allowed his mother to floo him, her head appearing in his fireplace and taking in his appearance, which was decidely more dapper than his usual ensemble. It had taken the woman a second to deduct where he was off to, and the man had spent the rest of the time fending off questions. Finally, he'd managed to get her to go so he could, but it was at a great concession- a promise to bring the woman to dinner in the near future. As far as he was concerned, the near future could mean in the next few months. He knew that it meant much sooner than that to his mother who still hadn't met Sara, but that was a fight for another day. Rushing out, he disapparated, appearing in the general vicinity of Sara's home.

He walked down the familiar path, only five minutes late, eager to see her. Mason saw Sara every day, but it was typically from a fair distance. One of their concessions for making this all work was to keep their business life and personal life as separate as they could. It had worked out well thus far, and the man was pleased about that. They were far from a secret. He was too old and far too busy to worry about a secret relationship, but they were a private one. So far, it had been working well for them. With a smile on his face as he made his way up the walkway, Mason was looking forward to a nice, quiet evening with his...he cocked his head to the side, realizing that they'd never officially named this thing they were involved in. Hoping to resolve that this evening, Mason knocked on the door.

 

[Sara Moon]

As she left her bedroom, she noted that Mason was running slightly late. It wasn't exactly a surprise, he was a busy man. Sara busied herself rearranging cutlery and quickly checking on the dessert. When she cooked, she cooked well. She'd grown up in a household where fast food was rarely consumed, and after all the years of dinner parties and soireés she'd endured, she would always prefer simple, homey meals. She hummed to herself as she bustled about the kitchen, a habit her father always laughed at. He joked that sometimes she'd sing without even realising it, a joke nobody but those in her family really believed was born of truth. At the sound of a knock at the door, her head whipped around. She put down the glass she'd been cleaning for the third time that evening and practically floated to the door, eager to see Mason Talarico.

Suddenly there he was. When she'd first realised he too was interested in more than friendship, it had startled her. Even now at times she found herself wondering when exactly the other foot would drop. Why on Earth would Mason Talarico want her? A smile broke out across her face as she leaned forward on tip-toe to press her lips against his, her arms crossing at the back of his neck. "Hi." Taking in his appearance, her smile widened. "You look very handsome." She simply looked at him for a moment before disentangling herself and heading down the hallway. "I was going to do the usual turkey Christmas thing, but I imagine we'll both be sick of turkey by the time the holidays are over." She turned around mid-sentence walking backwards into the kitchen-dining room. "I hope you like pork." She'd always loved the traditional Christmas meal, but it always ended up being eaten far too much during the month of December. Turning left as she entered the room, she stopped at the table, suddenly feeling very silly. She was like an over-zealous tour guide. "I was surprised you got out of work so promptly." she laughed, one hand resting on the table, which was dressed well, the way her mother had instructed them. The other hand played with her curls, while the brunette wondered why she felt so nervous.

 

[Mason Talarico]

As the door opened, Mason was blessed by the vision before him. A low whistle escaped his lips as she gave him a kiss, her arms remaining around his neck for a moment. He wrapped an arm loosely around her waist as he replied. “You look beautiful.” He was glad that he’d thought to dress up this evening because Sara looked dressed up. He almost felt bad that they’d chosen to remain home for the evening until he stepped inside and got a whiff of what was cooking. Whatever it was, he knew that there would be no regrets about staying in. Following her in after he’d reluctantly let her go, Mason listened, smiling brightly as she turned around to face him once more. “I do” he replied easily as they entered the brightly lit kitchen. The Head Auror had a hearty appetite, and anything home-cooked was alright in his book especially since it was so rare that he ate that way. More often than not, the man ordered in.

“Well, I had a ‘pressing appointment’ to keep” Mason stated, explaining the excuse he’d used to leave early as he moved close to the table, bracing an arm on the top of one of the chairs. “Ah, damn” the man muttered under his breath, adding in the summoning charm followed by the name of a fancy brand of goblin-made wine. He finished casting the wandless charm, and then glanced around, glad to see that one of her windows was in fact open. “I forgot the wine at home. It’s on its way now” Mason replied sheepishly, his mouth dropping into an apologetic grin.

 

[Sara Moon]

One man shouldn't be allowed to look so handsome so consistently, she mused as she watched Mason enter the room after her. She laughed at the expression on his face as he mentioned the wine, placing a hand impulsively on his cheek as she did so. She felt so lucky, as though nothing could really go wrong. "Sounds good. I'll just.." Picking up her wand from the counter, she sent plates twirling toward the table. It reminded her of that scene in Beauty and the Beast, one of her favourite films as a child, where all the cutlery danced. Plates of various vegetables, mashed and roast potatoes, green beans, onions, carrot and turnip mash, a gravy boat, apple sauce, all flew into place. Finally, the oven flew open and the meat, cooked to perfection, settled on a platter at the center of the table. "I love cooking." she sighed happily turning to Mason with a smile on her face. Of course, magic made it even more enjoyable because there was no manual cleaning afterward. "Bon appetit." She took her seat on one side of the table. The wine would arrive momentarily, and they could enjoy their meal.

"I can't wait for Christmas." she sighed, pushing her hair back from her face and allowing it to fall behind her shoulders. She was looking forward to seeing her family, though she would miss seeing Mason. It felt like such a long time since she'd just spent time with the Moons. She wasn't sure whether Kate would be back in Ireland or not, though she wouldn't have been surprised if it were the latter. It was little Branson's first Christmas, she and Stefan would probably prefer a quiet holiday, just the three of them. She'd picked out a present for baby Branson. If it turned out that Kate was staying put, she'd owl it to them.

 

[Mason Talarico]

Sara was nothing if not easygoing about most things, he'd discovered. It was a far cry from the previous relationships he'd been in. His brothers had once told him that his type was 'high maintenance,' but he was sure they wouldn't be able to say that about Sara. Not when he could see the evidence of all the trouble she'd gone through for him, for them, to have a great evening. Mason stood still, not wanting to get in the way as magic put the plates heaping with food on the table before them. "I love eating" he quipped in reply. With a smile, Mason took his seat opposite Sara as they got ready to enjoy what he was sure was going to be a mouth-watering meal. He served himself quickly, glad that the wine arrived soon enough. "Cheers to good food and better company" he stated, a pleasant expression on his face as he spoke. He performed a spell that would ensure that the glasses were kept full, the bottle hovering over the table.

"Aye...What do you have planned? Spending time with your sister?" Mason asked, knowing that she was going to be taking some time off for the holidays soon enough. He'd seen the paperwork cross his desk some time over the past few weeks. Mason's plans were all set. He did the same thing each year. On Christmas Day, he'd head to his parents' property along with his brothers to spend a few days with his entire family. They'd all wonder about his relationship status, offer to set him up on dates with their unmarried friends. This year, he knew would be a little different, especially now that his mother knew he was dating someone. It'd be different too because he knew he was going to miss seeing Sara. She was an important part of her life these days, one that he was growing to treasure more and more each day.

 

[Sara Moon]

Sara raised her class to Mason's toast, glad to simply be around him. She'd spent so long worrying about her feelings for him, fretting over whether or not to tell him, spending all her time thinking about ways to appear normal around him. It all seemed a tad ridiculous now that she reflected on it. She needn't have worried at all. His question forced her to stop admiring his face and pay attention to the reality that surrounded her "I might, I mean, I'm going back to England to see Mam and Dad, and all of us are going to Ireland then for the actual day. Ryan and Star will probably be there." she hadn't seen either her parents or her two younger siblings in quite some time and she was looking forward to it. "I'm not too sure about Kate. It's Branson's first Christmas, so she and Stefan might want to have a quiet one." she knew Thomas and Sophie Moon would be hoping for a visit from their first grandchild, but she expected them to be disappointed.

It probably wasn't particularly modest, but this food was really good. She was really enjoying it, and hoped Mason was too. "How about you? Heading home?" She didn't really know much about his family. She knew he was born in Italy, and had two brothers. Obviously it was very early in the relationship, and as such she wouldn't be meeting his family for quite a while or vice versa. "Mam and Dad will want to know about my love life.." she smirked, sipping her wine. She'd obviously let them know she was seeing someone, but she wasn't looking forward to the conversation. Her twin probably wouldn't approve, but Sara could deal with that. She couldn't imagine how Maosn's family would receive the news. It felt ridiculous to be wondering about his family after only three months, which felt like such a short time to the tiny brunette, but this somehow felt more serious than any romance she'd experienced before.

 

[Mason Talarico]

Mason listened to her plans, eating silently as she spoke. He was still getting to know all of the people who were important to her. She spoke of her parents and siblings often enough that he knew that they were. “That sounds very nice” he replied easily with a smile. Aurors never got to spend enough time with the people that they cared about. They were often too busy trying to protect them. “Well, I haven’t called my parents’ house home for a while, but yes. I’ll be heading there. So will my brothers and their wives and children.” His parents had a great deal of property and had built several smaller houses on the property for when their children came over. It was sure to be a great time. “This really is excellent” Mason added, heartily eating another bite of pork.

Hearing that her parents would bring up her love life gave Mason just the opening for what he’d been thinking about on his way over to her house. The conversation with his own mother had forced it to the surface, and he knew that if her parents were like his, they would be relentless in their efforts to find out exactly what was going on with their child. Mason was the middle sibling and hardly a child, but because he was the only unmarried one of his siblings, his parents, his mother, placed an inordinate importance to him finding a wife. No matter that he worked double what the average person did and that he had been married once before. The only thing that mattered was finding a wife now. Putting down his knife and fork, Mason reached for his glass. “And what will you be telling them, Sara?” he asked, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “You know, just so we’re on the same page” he added after a moment before taking a sip. Thankfully, the bottle drifted in his direction to top off his glass. He had a feeling he’d need it in a moment.

 

[Sara Moon]

It was one of the things she liked most about Mason, the fact that he cared about family. For Sara, family was very important. While the Moons had fallen out time and time again, they were always there for each other when they were needed. When she'd been injured, Kate had known exactly what to say and how to keep her calm. When Kate had gone into early labour, Sara had rushed to St. Mungo's. The younger Moon twins had managed to avoid the pitfalls of their elder sisters for the main part. Since leaving Hogwarts Ryan and Star had lived relatively drama-free lives. She was especially looking forward to seeing her little brother. It felt like it had been such a long time since his last visit, but she knew he was busy. Ryan and Sara had always been alike, not as trusting as their twins, nor as good at simply being happy. They were always striving for something else. Over the past few years though, Sara had worked on that need. Being an auror was a huge part of changing her attitude. Her work life was so hectic that she'd become much more stable in her everyday life. She was more grounded now. Ryan was still wandering, but she was confident he would find a place and a life to make him happy also.

Mason's question prompted a laugh. She should've seen that coming. "That's what I've been trying to figure out." she took a slow sip of her drink, carefully constructing her next sentence. "I'll obviously tell them I'm seeing someone." That much was clear. Neither she nor Mason had wanted to keep their relationship a secret, and keeping it from her family would make no sense. "I'm just not sure what to call you. My boyfriend, or 'this guy I sort of tricked into seeing me by accident?' Dad will be very defensive. He still thinks I'm about eight. Before Kate got married he had this big meeting with Stefan, waylaid him in the bookshop or something." She remembered her Mam telling the story, relaying how Thomas had puffed out his chest when telling the story. "What about you? Will your family be curious?" she asked, wanting to turn the tables on him, smiling to herself as she placed her wine glass back on the table, leaning back in her seat and looking expectantly as Mason, her eyes full of amusement.

 

[Mason Talarico]

Mason nodded his head, glad that they were on the same page there as they had been since they'd begun dating. They saw no reason to lie or deny that they weren't dating. They just weren't going forward with that information unless they were directly asked, which wasn't often. Most of the Aurors had far more on their plates than trying to ascertain who their boss was seeing. The man shook his head at her next comments. "You didn't trick me into anything, Sara" he stated with a sigh. They'd gone over this before, but he would do it again, if only to convince her of that. "Nor was I bamboozled, confunded, or any other word you might try to put in there. I promise I'm here of my own volition" he finished with a chuckle. Hearing about her father was amusing. Mason had dealt with his fair share of fathers and knew that he was often hit or miss with them. He knew it could go either way this time. Either the man would respect his job, which hopefully was the case since he daughter was also an Auror, or he'd find Mason incredibly irresponsible for even considering a relationship. And that wasn't even accounting for their age difference which was substantial.

Shaking his head, Mason took another sip before speaking. "No, I'm sure they won't be. My mother messaged me before I came over and saw me dressed like this so I'm sure she's already on the case. By the time I get over there, I'm sure she'll know your NEWT grades" he grumbled, knowing his grandfather still held many of his Auror connections, and with his inability to say no to his daughter, she'd have everything that she needed at her fingertips. "But, I'm sure they'll love you." He put his glass down and picked up his utensils again. Spearing a vegetable, Mason looked at Sara again as he spoke. "And, I'll introduce you as the woman I'm seeing. Girlfriend just doesn't quite suit you" Mason added, quick to add as he realized how that sounded, "I feel like this is more than that." The Head Auror realized the enormity of that statement, but in the moments that he spoke those words, he realized just how true they felt, just how true they were. "If that's all right with you, of course" he finished, filling his mouth with food so he'd stop talking.

 

[Sara Moon]

It still surprised her that, while their relationship probably did complicate things for Mason, their being a couple hadn't caused much difficulty for them in work. She did feel guilty about it from time to time though. She did get some looks from older aurors, who seemed to disapprove somewhat. Mason hadn't mentioned anything of the kind, and so she'd decided to let it lie. He had enough to worry about. She thought her Dad might have some issues with her dating Mason. She just prayed he gave him a chance. If he got to know the man sitting across from her, she knew they'd get along. She knew Sophie Moon would like him; she was more open-minded than her Dad, and had managed to accept that the four of them were adults now, who made their own choices. She'd chosen Mason, and Sophie would respect that. Thomas would take a bit more work.

His words made her laugh "I wish I had those resources." she replied, moving onto the mashed potatoes. She'd always loved mash, it was a staple of the Irish diet. Potatoes in general were adored in Ireland. The thought of meeting his parents was daunting though. God only knew what they'd think of her. As a teenager, adults had always liked her; she was a prefect and quidditch captain, she was the kind of person one wanted their child to spend time with. As an adult, she was meeting them on equal footing; she didn't know how they'd respond to her. His next statement however, threw her a bit. It sounded so serious. Sara had always been a bit of a flight risk, and while she'd known this thing with Mason was more than just a fling, saying it out loud was something different entirely. She was silent for a moment that felt like forever, though in reality it took all of about three seconds for her to respond. "Of course it is." Her hand reached across the table to find Masons as a smile formed on her lips. "More than alright." It felt odd, being sure of someone in this way, but she was sure of Mason. She had no interest in anyone else, felt in no way pressured into giving too much of herself. Maybe this was how it was supposed to be when you truly cared for someone.

 

[Mason Talarico]

Mason gave a playful scowl, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips. "Nonono. Merlin no." Mason wasn't a bad guy, but he'd made some questionable decisions in his private life, some that he wasn't proud of and others he'd chalked up to being an idiot of a teenager and young adult. He'd grown up a lot over the years, even more so as he'd taken on increasing responsibility as an Auror. "Besides, if you want to know anything about me, you just have to ask. I expect that the whole family will know about you by the time I get there, so it's only fair" he added, raising his eyebrows for a second. "My mother has never been good at keeping a secret" he added, shaking his head though it was obvious he cared a great deal for the woman even if she exasperated him. Thankfully, her dad and brothers would keep her from going too far down the rabbit hole. At least he hoped they could. Sometimes it wasn't easy to keep her out of it.

The silence that filled the room was not the comfortable kind. It was the kind where Mason wondered if he should have said something different. Thankfully, it didn't last long at all, and the Head Auror found himself reaching out his hand, taking Sara's hand in his. He was glad that the table was just the right size to make this a comfortable position, and he continued to eat one-handed, happy that she was, in fact, alright with what he'd said. In spite of her youth, Sara possessed a level of maturity that Mason had never quite experienced in a relationship. "Good" he murmured. As dinner progressed, Mason and Sara spoke about all manner of things. Conversation always seemed to flow easily with her. "I am stuffed" the man stated a while later, pushing his plate away. Now that the meal was over, Mason brought up his family again. "I was thinking...since we'll be apart for Christmas that it might be nice to spend New Year's Eve together. If you're not still with your family, of course." He looked at Sara as he spoke, his eyes staring deeply into hers.

 

[Sara Moon]

"I know that, but the sneaky sleuthing would keep me sharp."Sara joked. It felt nice to trust him, feeling no need to question his motives or wonder what he was thinking. He was so open about things, it made her feel safe. "The same goes for you." She looked across at the man sitting with her. The difference in age wasn't small, but somehow it never really occurred to her when she was with Mason. Unlike guys her own age that she'd dated, Mason seemed so sure of himself, and of what he wanted. It was so much more simple than her past attempts at relationships in that sense. It would be a while yet before they met each others families, and the relationship was still new, but it felt so much more real than a three month relationship probably should. As the meal continued, she found herself remembering why she'd liked Mason in the first place. He had such an easy sense of humour, she felt so at ease with him.

When they were both finished, she smiled at Mason's statement. It was probably a bit clichéd to invite him over for a home-cooked meal, but she liked to spoil him a bit, he worked so hard. His suggestion made her suppress a grin, pursing her lips. Her original plan had been to stay with her parents for New Years, but Mason's offer was more appealing. "Hmm, I'll have to check me schedule." She mused falsely exaggerating her accent and standing to cross the table, to hug Mason around his shoulders. "Might be nice to have someone to kiss at midnight." she laughed, kissing his check. "So yes." She rose again, clearing the plates from the table and moving them over to the sink. "I know I'm not supposed to say this because I cooked it, but I actually really enjoyed that." she admitted as she moved around the kitchen. After a moment, she remembered the fact that she was a witch, and grabbed her wand to set the dishes to washing themselves.

 

[Mason Talarico]

Mason waited for her reply, trying to temper his own eagerness for her to say yes. He knew that no Auror got to see their family often enough, so he wouldn't stand in the way if she chose to remain with her family. The man figured he'd spend his catching up on sleep if he wasn't working. That's how he'd spent the past few New Year's Eves. Quickly enough, he had his answer and things were settled. Though they'd be apart for Christmas, the pair would ring in 2042 together. Mason was immensely pleased, a smile rising on his face at her reply and the kiss she'd placed on his cheeks. It remained on his face, turning to wry amusement as he watched Sara walk some played over to her sink. He watched for a moment before raising his wand which he'd placed beside his plate to help send plates to the sink and get the garbage gathered up. What was a domestic task that most people would have hated was a lot more pleasurable when he was doing it for Sara. "As you should. It was amazing" he grinned, standing from the table and moving quickly over to her. He stopped in front of her, lifting her chin so he could lay a kiss on her lips. "Your talents never cease to amaze me" he murmured when they finally broke free to catch a breath.

In no rush to do anything, really he didn't think he could rush if he tried with as full as he was, Mason leaned against a counter watching the plates wash themselves and then move elsewhere to dry and store themselves. "So, what would you want to know?" he asked, rubbing at his neck with a free hand. It was a dangerous question, but he'd always strived for honesty in his relationships. "You know...if you were 'sleuthing'?"he added. He and Sara had shared a lot with each other over the past few months, but they were still getting to know each other and there was still a lot to learn.

 

[Sara Moon]

Having Mason so close to her still sent a thrill though Sara Moon. She could kiss him for an eternity and never grow bored. She laughed at his comment, pulling his face back to hers. She was excited abut the prospect of New Years now. Her parents might be annoyed that she wouldn't be home, but she could deal with them. The prospect of starting a new year with Mason was one that appealed to her in many ways. It was said that one had to start the new year as they intended to spend it, and her intent was to be with this man for as long as he would have her. She pulled away, and was startled by Mason's question. Her comment had been no more than a passing one, a sort of joke really. She knew she wasn't very good at sharing things about herself, a private person at the best of times, but she was trying to be open with Mason. It was difficult. She had to pull herself up short every time she downplayed something or glossed over an issue, but it was worth it. Biting her lip, she snaked her hands around Mason's waist, wondering how to respond.

"I don't know really." she admitted, leaning back slightly. "I sort of wonder what you were like as a child, what you're afraid of, when you first fell in love." she admitted, smiling as she looked into the eyes she'd come to marvel at. "You can be very mysterious Mason Talarico." she added, moving her face closer to his. "It's one of your more attractive traits." A laugh escaped her lips as she pondered her next words very carefully. "I feel you're very honest though, I don't feel the need to question about things. I mean, I guess.." This was something she'd never really said before. "I trust you." It was a new feeling, one that filled her with warmth. She did trust Mason, never questioned his motives or worried that he was hiding something. "I know that with the nature of our jobs, there will be things you can't tell me in general, but I know that if I should know something, you'll make sure I do. Is there anything you want to know about me?" Something clicked for Sara Moon in that moment. While there were some complications for their relationship, given their employment, it was simple at its core. Even at this very early stage, she trusted Mason Talarico implicitly.

 

[Mason Talarico]

Mason wasn’t sure what to expect as a response. Really, he’d just given Sara free reign to ask him anything. The man knew that he had some secrets; he was in his 40s and had lived it to its fullest thus far, so he had his fair share of heartbreaks, lovelorn tales, adventures, and other assorted stories to tell. He placed the palm of his hand on the hand wrapped around his waist, glad that she hadn’t pulled away from him to ask. He smirked, relieved that was all she wanted to know. Simple things, really. But, he knew that sometimes those were the things that mattered most. With a raise of his eyebrows, Mason replied, “I may have heard that once or twice.” He stared into her brown eyes as she continued on, her words causing a broad smile to cross his face. Trust. One of the most important aspects of any relationship, at least in Mason’s book. He was awed that Sara would give him that so soon into their relationship, but he knew that dating was relatively new for them, their relationship had begun long before then. Mason confirmed what she said with a swift nod, knowing that from this moment on he would indeed be as much of an open book as he could be. He’d never quite met a woman like Sara, and he knew that for as long as this lasted, he’d be in for quite the adventure.

As she turned the question on him, Mason leaned his head down, allowing it to land on top of hers. He didn’t answer it right away, instead returning to the interests that she’d mentioned earlier in the conversation. “I was a bit of a troublemaker as a child. I’m the middle brother, so I was always getting my older brother in trouble. When you meet him, you can ask him. I’m sure he’ll tell you all the embarrassing stories you’ve wanted to hear and some you didn’t” he added with an eye roll. Mason knew that his brother would enjoy regaling Sara with all kinds of stories about a young Mason. He didn't think there was anything much that would make her run except perhaps the knowledge that he'd been married before. It had been for a brief time, ages ago, and it was something he hardly spoke about, but it was there, and he knew he'd have to make that known to Sara sooner rather later. He was reluctant to impede on this moment with talk of his ex-wife, so he smirked. "There is one thing I'd like to. It's not about you per se" he continued, pausing for a long moment. "What will I have to do to get your father to like me?" he asked. In their world, intel was important, and he had a feeling he'd need all of the intel he could get in this situation.

 

[Sara Moon]

As Mason spoke, Sara found herself smiling as she leaned against his chest. She could just imagine a miniature Mason wreaking all kings of havoc. She was sometimes slightly taken aback by how casually he could talk about her meeting his family and such. To her, the very thought was mildly terrifying. If his family didn't like her, it would spell disaster for their relationship. If she could have, she would've frozen in that moment, entirely content in his presence, but the nature of time was to keep moving, and she didn't think there were any time turners left. She laughed at his question, moving her head by to look him in the eye. "Aw, it's incredibly cute that you think that's possible." she kept a straight face, before laughing and answering. "No, honestly, Dad will try to like you, if that makes any sense. He's just very protective. He'll know if you're trying too hard. Just be yourself." Thomas Moon wasn't a judgmental man, but when it came to his children, he was very careful. "Dad is very intelligent. He loves learning, and reading. I got that from him. He's actually very informed on magic, he read a lot of our textbooks and such so that he'd understand our world. That made becoming an auror a bit more difficult, since he knew what it meant."

Realising she'd said nothing helpful, she smiled, raising a hand to Mason's face. "I know he'd like you, for you, if you weren't dating me." The eldest Moon had always been close to her Dad. "As it is, he'll probably like you despite himself. He'll want to dislike you, but he'll try to like you for me, and then he'll find he likes you simply because you're the kind of person he'd like. I don't think there are any secret tips I can give you." Laughing, she added "I realise that sounds like a poorly composed riddle, but Dad's feelings on the issue are complicated. I don't think you have anything to worry about though. My Grandfather was the same with Mam, and then he and Dad ended up being very close." Thomas wanted her to be happy, that she knew, but she was also painfully aware that a part of him wanted her to stay a little girl forever, and found it hard to let go. "Your turn, how can I charm your Mam?" she asked, raising her eyebrows. At least his mother knew about her, and she was sure Mason would tell them the basic details, as she would inform her own parents. All this asking of questions did make her aware, however, that there was a lot she didn't know about Mason Talarico, and while she didn't feel like she needed to know everything about his past, she did want to, eventually.

 

[Mason Talarico]

Mason's eyebrows rose so swiftly that they would flown off of his face if they weren't attached. After a moment, he let out a nervous chuckle. Was her father really that bad? The man continued to listen to Sara's advice, hanging onto her and her every word as she spoke. He gave a curt nod. The man knew that she was giving him sound advice. "Ah, that's where you get it from then" he commented, amusement clear in his voice. Sara was ever the Ravenclaw from what he'd learned about the houses over the years. He liked her curiosity, her thirst to both enjoy and understand life. Whenever they did anything together, Sara always made him feel like he was experiencing it for the first time as he tried to see things from her point of interest. Her curiosity is what made her a damn good Auror, but he was happy that it seemed to make her an even better partner.

"Your father sounds very...complex" he continued, clearly still amused. Mason had always been challenge-driven. He'd learned best during his home schooling years when his grandad had put his grandchildren against each other to solve a problem, practice a spell, or discover new information. As an Auror, he'd enjoyed the challenge of outsmarting dark wizards. He knew he'd also enjoy the challenge of winning Mr. Moon over, and he would do it since failure wasn't an option. Mason knew that Sara and her father were close. Failing to win him over was not an option. As she turned the question on him, Mason scoffed and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Just tell her you're feeding me, and I think you'll be in. I think the woman still doubts my ability to wrangle together a meal." He'd lived apart from her longer than he'd lived with her at this point, but his mother still felt the need to remind him to eat. "And she'll probably already be impressed that you can actually cook." None of his other girlfriends had been great in a kitchen."

 

[Sara Moon]

He was right, her father was complex, no less than his daughter. Mason didn't know how much she'd changed since finishing school, he didn't know about her 'lost year' before joining the aurors. She wasn't really hiding it, considering she wasn't that person anymore, but she wasn't sure he'd be particularly impressed should he learn about the heavy drinking and partying she'd done at the time. "He is. He's protective, the Moon children have given him reason to be. Star's the only one who went through her school years without any major crisis. Ryan, Kate and I all cut ourselves off entirely at one point or another." Those instances had impacted her family, and her, more than she cared to admit. "Merlin, it feels like an age ago." She breathed, leaning against his chest once more, swaying slightly to a music of her own imagination. "You probably saw this in my file at some point, I don't know, but when I became an auror, I hadn't gotten a NEWT in herbology." She explained, not wanting to keep any secrets from him. "In my sixth year, my grades went down considerably, I only got an A in Herbology and you needed an E for seventh year. Kate had stopped eating, and I spent all my time worrying about her. I barely studied. Then, when I got my marks, I thought I wouldn't be an auror, and I went a bit mad." That was an understatement.

"I don't think she needs to worry about your ability to cook, more about your ability to prioritize yourself." She laughed, smiling as his lips brushed her skin. Mason Talarico was dedicated to his work, even to the detriment of himself. Sometimes she saw him in work, so stressed that she just wanted to force him to sit and relax. She didn't, because she knew what they did in the aurors' office was important. Still, it was nice to see him so chilled. It was heartening to think she could win over Mrs. Talarico so easily, but she doubted it was particularly realistic. Mothers tended to be blind when it came to their sons, she knew her own Mam was. As far as Sophie Moon was concerned, Ryan would always be her little boy, and no woman could match him. She hoped Mason's mother was different, but she needed to be prepared for the opposite situation.

 

[Mason Talarico]

Mason enjoyed learning about Sara. Sure, he’d read her file which contained a great deal of information, but it didn’t contain the small stories about her growing up or her favorite things or explain just how her family functioned. No, those things he learned from Sara herself, and he really could listen to her speak all day. He found his hand tightening on her waist as she spoke about her difficulties during her sixth year, moved by the fact that she’d cared so much about her sister’s well-being that nothing else had mattered as much. Mason was just as close with his brothers and several cousins, and he completely understood. He narrowed his eyes at her in a playful manner. “Have you been speaking with her already? She tells me that all the time” he joked.

A little over a month later…

“3…2…1…Happy New Year!” the voice from the Wizarding World Network’s local station declared from the radio over his mantle. Mason barely heard the woman’s voice as she went on about the fireworks being shot through the sky in the harbor. If they listened, the fireworks could be heard off in the distance. He’d already pulled Sara close to him, his lips on hers and his hands on other side of her face. They’d kept to their plans to ring in the new year together and away from work and their families. It had just been the two of them, dinner that they’d prepared together, and several bottles of champagne. “Happy New Year, Sara” the man stated as he broke the kiss, though his hands remained on her face, his thumbs caressing her cheeks. The weeks between their last time together had both flown by and dragged on, work, their families, and other events keeping them both busy and apart. When she’d walked through the door of his home, it was like she’d been away for years and not weeks. He’d simply stared for a few moments, marveling in her beauty as he was doing right now. Mason smiled. “I hope 2042 is an amazing year for you” he stated, hoping that he would be a big part of it, but still hoping that for her even if he wasn’t. She was truly an amazing woman.

 

[Sara Moon]

The last few weeks had been full of family, presents, and terrible Irish weather. Coming back to New Zealand had been a bit of a shock to Sara's system. While it was Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the weather was much more mild down here. She'd missed Mason terribly, which terrified her slightly. Sara had never really cared that much about a man. Seeing her parents had been great though; they'd both reacted well when she told them about Mason, though her Dad hadn't been particularly enthused. She hadn't really expected him to be if she were honest. Still, while she'd enjoyed her time in Ireland seeing all her extended family, she couldn't wait to return to New Zealand. She'd run to Mason when she arrived at his door, lost in a strange feeling of coming home, which she hadn't had the time to analyse yet. As she stood with her arms wrapped around the man with whom she was wringing in the New Year's, her mind was too clouded by multiple glasses of bubbly to dwell on over-thinking her relationship. "Hap-" she began, before being interrupted by his kiss. Laughing as they broke apart, she answered his New Year's wishes, "Happy New Year." She bit her lip as he stroked her cheek, leaving her hands to rest on his forearms. "For us." she corrected him, leaning in toward him, her forehead resting against his. "So do I."

Noticing the sound of the distant fireworks, she turned her head slightly to look across the waves. "It's beautiful." she sighed, watching the colours. "I'm so glad to be back." In truth, New Zealand felt more like her home than Ireland now. Her life was here. Sara couldn't remember the last time she'd felt like an outsider here. The fact that Mason was now in her life mad that transition even more complete. As she watched the sky light up, a thought occurred to her, that all of 2042 was ahead of her, and that it was quite possible that she would celebrate 2043 with the same man who held her now. It scared her and excited her in equal parts. Another thing which could be thought through at a later date.

 

[Mason Talarico]

The correction brought a smile to his face, and Mason found himself feeling hopeful for what the year would have in store for them. It was the first time in a long time that the man had rung in the year with a woman by his side, but this was certainly the first time that he'd felt this good about it. In his past relationships, the new year had brought with it a desire for him to be free from the chains that seemed to hold him. That wasn't the case with Sara. She was playful yet smart, strong and beautiful. Mason knew that there was really nothing more he could ask for in a relationship, so as long as he stayed out of his own way, he'd have it good. Sara would be good to him and good for him. "Yes, for us" he murmured as he let her face go, his arm dropping to slide into her back, keeping her close.

The Head Auror watched the fireworks, glad that he'd purchased this home on the hill where it overlooked the harbour, yet still kept him far enough that he could have a bit of privacy. It was a shanty compared to the vacation home that he shared with his siblings, though it had been ages since he had been there. Still, with Sara by his side, he had new eyes through which to appreciate the space he owned. "I'm glad you're here. This" he gestured out through the window, "wouldn't have been the same without you." Mason said those words with the utmost sincerity. They'd spent the earlier part of the evening discussing their trips, but now, this moment was just for them. It was a selfish thought, but Mason was finding it an increasingly easy thing to do where Sara was concerned. His family would meet her eventually, but it would be when he was ready to share her company, and he just wasn't at the moment.

 

[Sara Moon]

Sara felt so still, as though the world were moving around her. It may have had something to do with the champagne, nay it probably had something to do with the champagne, but maybe, maybe it was the fact that Sara Moon hadn't been this content in quite some time. She smiled at Mason's words, briefly moving to brush her lips against his before nestling into his arms once more. "To think, if I'd never been injured, we'd wouldn't be here." It almost made her thankful for the crippling dreams, and the months of recuperating. Mason was worth all of that. He was strong and intelligent. Here was a man who would never be intimidated by her job (especially considering he was her superior) or feel emasculated by it. Here was a man who didn't make her want to run, who didn't bore her or treat her like a child. She'd always hated the assumptions people made about her based on her looks, that she was helpless, needed to be looked after, or worst of all; adorable.

"I think I-" She wasn't quite sure where she was going with the sentence, but allowed herself to speak without a filter. It took more of an effort than she'd have liked to admit. "I've sort of been generally plodding along for some time. Day to day, not much changed. It's nice to.." Again, unsure how to continue, she paused to collect her thoughts. "To be happy, genuinely happy." She couldn't look at Mason as she spoke, knowing he was a large part of her happiness. She kept her face buried in his chest so she wouldn't have to look him in the eyes. Trust was something that meant a lot to Sara Moon, and she'd given Mason her trust, but that didn't make it any easier for her to open herself up to someone. It wasn't her nature to lay her feelings on the line, but something about the man who held her made her want to.

 

[Mason Talarico]

Ever the optimist, Mason thought to himself at her words. He didn't know if he'd ever be grateful for that having happened to her to bring them together, but he couldn't deny that her being injured on the job had played a large part in this. Mason liked to imagine that somehow, some way, they would have ended up together. He just couldn't give Avory Brandt that much credit for anything. He was pulled from these thoughts by Sara speaking again. She interrupted herself and he looked down at her, wondering what she'd just been about to say. She continued on, and as she finished, Mason nodded his head, agreeing easily. He couldn't have said it better himself. Life was meant to be lived, and it was something that Mason often struggled with as he continued to move up the ladder in the Ministry. Sara wasn't looking at him, so he contented himself with a squeeze around her waist to let her know that he agreed.

"Let's make this a year where we" he emphasized as she had not too soon before, "vow to not just plod along. We'll do things that make us happy...well, as much as we can outside of work anyway" he added with a tight smile. Work took a huge chunk of out both of their lives, but if they could make the rest of their time more worthwhile, he honestly couldn't come up with a reason not to. "I can think of a way to get started on that" he added as he quickly placed an arm under her legs and lifted her up so he was holding her in a bridal carry, a smirk on his face.

 

[Sara Moon]

It felt both strange and comforting for Sara, to be so connected to someone. She didn't need Mason to speak sometimes. His simply being here was enough. It felt so selfish to be here, though she'd tried to convince herself it wasn't. She had three files sitting on her desk at work that needed to be seen to. Still, it was New Year's Eve. A personal life was important too. She smiled at his words, finally looking up to meet his eye. As much work as she had, she knew Mason had more. It baffled her continuously that he had any time for her. Another woman might have demanded more of him, but she saw how stressed he could be in work, how much pressure was put on him. She would never wish to add to that. Of all the things about a relationship that Sara didn't understand, neediness was one she'd never been able to grasp. She abhorred it in others, and regulated it in herself. She now acknowledged that she did need people, but made sure she never needed them too much.

What he said about work was true though, it did take up a lot of their time. It was somewhat lucky that they worked together, since it meant they saw each other regularly; though it was a very different dynamic in the office. He was her boss, and she was an employee, and that was how it had to be. A shocked exclamation escaped her lips as she was lifted into the air. She mirrored Mason's expression with a gentle laugh. "Intriguing." Wrapping her arms around his neck she pulled him into a kiss, allowing him to carry her from the room.

~Fin~​

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