The Two of Us

[Izaak Finch]

"Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves. He leaned over and kissed him good night." Izaak Finch spoke in a softened voice as he read aloud to his son, his azure blue eyes watched on as exhaustion begun to take hold of the five year old. For the entirety of the story, Liam had been desperately trying to blink away the heavy throes of sleep and it drew an endearing smile from the father to watch his son's eyelids finally flutter closed. Izaak turned to the last page of the well-worn children's book and read the ending to his slumbering son. "Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile, 'I love you right up to the moon -- and back.'" For a long moment after he had closed the book, Izaak kept his bright eyes on his son. Although he had somewhere he had to be, the man figured he was late anyway on account of Liam's determination to make it through four bedtime stories, a few extra minutes should not matter. It still amazed the azure-eyed man how he and Aly had made such a perfect little being. After the tragedies that had struck the births of both Cassie and Ella, Izaak had simply come to the assumption that he would never have children. But Liam, as happy and healthy as he had been, had proved him so very wrong. The surfing champ could only hope that their unborn daughter would follow in her brother's footsteps but he could not seem to shake the feeling that something would go amiss. Sighing softly, Izaak decided that that was not a can of worms he wanted to open tonight. Instead, he returned the book to its rightful place and tucked Liam's sheets tighter around his shoulders, fearing that the boy may catch a chill if he didn't. "Sweet dreams, little man." Izaak whispered softly as he kissed his son's forehead and slipped quietly from the room.

It was rare that the adults of the extended family got time alone together anymore, being that they all had their own children to look after. Yes, he saw both Nathaniel and Melodie, and Leah and Fletcher on a regular basis, being that the three families lived within blocks of one another. However, the kids were always in tow and more often than not, someone would have to excuse themselves to go and change a diaper or tend to a grazed knee. So when Melodie suggested that they should hit the town, her best friend had jumped at the opportunity. Initially, he had fretted to Aly at the thought of leaving her for half a night, worried that something would happen to her or the baby while he was out. But she had assured him that she and the baby would be fine. After grabbing his keys and his phone from the coffee table, Izaak bade his pregnant wife farewell with a soft, sweet kiss and made his way out the door. It was only a short walk to Melodie and Nathaniel's place but the winter air was icy and Izaak found himself digging his hands further into the pockets of his tweed coat.

The first time he had caught wind of the union between his cousin and his best friend, Izaak had not believed his ears and Melodie had spent longer trying to convince him of it's truth than she had recounting their story. Perhaps it was because deep down, Izaak felt as if Melodie were his. And she was in a sense, just as he was hers. But it was different, there was more to it than that. Melodie had been the one that he had married under the big oak tree at the age of five, she had been the one by his side when they had snuck into the kitchens together at fourteen and stolen the professors firewhiskey and on his sixteenth birthday, they had popped each other's cherries. He had been there for her after the attack all those years ago, just as she had been there for him following the car accident that had claimed the life of his fiancée. Melodie was the one true constant in his life and, momentarily and quite foolishly, he had felt as if she was replacing him with his own cousin. But the pro surfer had quickly gotten over this thought and now could not be more overjoyed that Melodie was all but officially his cousin-in-law. While smiling quietly to himself at how intertwined their separate families had become, Izaak reached her door and wrapped his knuckles across it. "Hurry up, Mels. It freezing out here!" He called to her from outside, knowing full well that she would hear his complaints.

 

[Melodie Lowe]

These days in Melodie's Bondi apartment it was constant chaos. From the minute she awoke to three boys bouncing on her bed to the minute she closed her eyes at night to Nathaniel scolding them for, again, jumping on the bed, there was chaos. With four boys in the small two bedroom apartment it seemed as though she should have seen it coming, all that testosterone and buoyancy under one roof never spelled tranquility, but she loved her boys all the same, even if right now she could feel herself about to burst. "Nate! Nate come and take your sticky son off of me!" she called, rather rudely, but this was just the way that the parents had come to communicate with one another as, once again, world war broke out between her three sons. Four year old Elias clung to his mother with hands and face still sticky from the tinned spaghetti his mother had somehow managed to rustle up for dinner as his twin brothers taunted him, running circles around the mother and son. Sure enough, Nathaniel came to Mel's rescue again, dragging the mess of a toddler from her arms and pulling him up onto his shoulders as far away from his brothers as possible. Unfortunately, the rescue hadn't come fast enough for Melodie's dress, the only one unsoiled by food or spit up of some sort - well - the only one that had been, because now she found herself looking down at spaghetti sauce across her chest and dress. There goes that one, she thought to herself, not even bothering to fuss now that she had experienced this so many times before. The mother of three wondered why she had even bothered to dress up, after all she should have expected this of her sons, she often wondered how three small creatures could create so much mess. But she had wanted to at least look somewhat decent that night, Izaak was taking her out and it would be the first night she could remember taking off since Elias had been born. Once beautiful, well made up and reckless, Melodie was now set to greet her best friend with curled locks falling over her older face and a slightly too small black dress covered in spaghetti-o's, she had to admit this was a new low - even for her.

She and Izaak, alongside Marcus, had once been troublesome teens, sneaking out, stealing swigs of fire whisky and shouting their beautiful youth to the world in all their actions. Melodie had wanted tonight to be a night just like she had when she was a teenager, but it seemed rather apparent that she Izaak were grown up now, both with young children, partners and homes to care for. Though it was already getting late Melodie was admitting defeat with her sons, they should have been long in bed by now, and the mother found herself picturing Izaak kissing his perfect little blonde son goodnight peacefully before sneaking out the door to meet her. This picture left a somewhat sour taste in her mouth as she looked upon the situation she was facing, she didn't think she'd ever seen Aiden and Lucas look peaceful, not unless they were up to something, and with them around the house poor Elias didn't stand a chance at peace. How was it that Izaak kept up such an illusion of having the perfect family as she and Nate struggled to wrangle their three children to bed, and almost always ended up with the whole family in their bed by morning. Amidst the current situation Melodie shook her head and chuckled as she heard Nate calling out, thumping noises coming from the boys' room. "Go on, go see what daddy is up to" she beckoned the twins, Nate had promised he'd take care of the three boys tonight, and she wasn't letting him get out of it that easily. Grabbing a damp cloth Melodie began to try and resurrect her party frock, hoping she still looked halfway decent at least, and smiled as she heard laughter pulsing through the small apartment. Nathaniel really was good with the kids, and even now Mel could hardly believe things had worked out the way they had between the pair. Going from hating each other to living together with their son, Melodie and Nathaniel were an unlikely couple. They still fought over every little thing, but always kissed and made up eventually. Glancing down at her watch it was well time Izaak arrived by now, but Mel couldn't blame him for being a little late, especially since she still owed him for she and Nate ever getting together in the first place. It was Izaak's wedding to Alianne where the pair had met and hid out in their broken down rental car, and where they had conceived Elias, the thing that brought them close together out of necessity.

Suddenly hearing the wrap of knuckles on the door and her best friend's impatient call, Mel called back "Ok Iz, I'm coming!" as she hurried to the door, tripping over a toy car as she went. Holding her toe in pain she swung the front door open, "I swear you have the patience of a child," she began, trailing off as her eyes met the blue of her friend's. He still looked as stunning as ever, she had to admit although their feelings for one another were now different. Looking into his eyes she remembered staring into all those years ago on their old nights out as teenagers and at Hogwarts. "Come here!" she suddenly exclaimed, pulling the man abruptly into her motherly embrace and squeezing him tightly, accidentally transferring some of that night's dinner from the front of her dress onto his shirt. Breaking the hug she looked down, "Oh crap! I'm so sorry! Here, here," she guided Izaak into the kitchen and began to dab at him with the same damp cloth she had tried to use on her own dress. She stopped briefly and burst into laughter, laying her head on Izaak's chest, "Oh Iz, I'm a mess" she said through chuckles, laughing seemed to get her through most of the chaos her life had afforded her, so now seemed as good a time as any.

 

[Izaak Finch]

A flood of light and warmth cascaded over Izaak as the front door swung back on its hinges, but Izaak no longer cared for relief from the cold when he saw his best friend standing in its frame. A stupid grin crept across his face as his bright eyes swept over her figure, noting the way she nursed her foot. He knew the feeling all too well. "Hmm," He chuckled at her jousting remark, it was true after all. "What can I say? Liam is rubbing off on me." His deep blue eyes sparkled cheekily, still youthful despite the years that had begun to age the rest of him. Melodie looked as beautiful as she ever had, even though he knew how her boys had worn her down. Their youth was still there, Izaak was sure of it. Perhaps buried beneath a few extra lines on their faces and the spit up on their shirts, but it remained within them. He caught her hazel eyes in the ocean of his own, just as he had thousands of times before, in remembrance of all the times that had passed between them - the good, the bad and the just plain drunken. He hoped that tonight might make the cut. But as Melodie pulled him into a hug, he no longer hoped, he knew. He grinned into her impeccable curls as her arms wound tightly around him, just as his own burly limbs returned the favour. But their embrace was cut all too short as Melodie snapped from his arms, looking down in horror at the front of his shirt. Izaak surveyed the damage but could not do anything but chuckle and protest her apologies as she led him into the kitchen. "Mel, seriously, don't even worry." He said with a laugh as she attempted to dab away at the spaghetti sauce on his chest with the dampened cloth. "I go through at least three shirts a day." And that's only with one boy, Izaak thought to himself and shook his head in disbelief, unsure of how his friend managed with three sons. Izaak was relatively new to parenting compared with the likes of Leah and Melodie and already he was struggling to juggle Liam, his social life and his work. What would happen when his daughter was born, Izaak had no clue. Although if she was anything like Liam, the father knew that she would be well worth the struggle.

The laughter that spilt from Melodie's lips was contagious and Izaak found himself chuckling too at what their lives had become. "For looking after three - no, four - boys," Izaak began, threading his long fingers through her dark curls with a laugh as her head lay against his chest. "I think you're doing pretty well for yourself. I would have shipped them all off to Timbuktu years ago. Nate included." He jested, poking her in the side softly. Melodie would know he was only kidding; he had loved the twins as he would his own all their lives, despite what havoc they wreaked upon her quaint apartment. And his cousin and little Elias seemed to be dragged, often against their will, into the games the mischievous two played. Shaking his head softly with a laugh, Izaak squeezed Melodie tightly against his athletic frame once more. "Sorry I'm late, by the way. It took me forty minutes to get the little guy to sleep. But it seems like you had your own problems to deal with anyway." He grinned, flashing his blue eyes towards the chorus of laughter that his cousin had evidently instigated. Once upon a time, their lateness was excused by detention with the head of house or being preoccupied between the sheets with their significant other at the time. Nowadays, it was a little less scandalous with their children governing the majority of their time, but Izaak would have it no other way. "Honestly, Mels. What have our lives become?" The man chuckled good-naturedly once more as he looked down at the woman in his arms. "I think we should head on out before another spaghetti emergency arises." Poking her cheekily in the side once more, Izaak let his arms fall from around her and returned his hands to the deep pockets of his coat.

(sorry, it's lame!)

 

[Melodie Lowe]

Izaak's confession of immaturity caused a stupid grin to spread across Mel's face, although a few more creases now spread across the man's face he was still that same old best friend she'd gotten up to no good with. Growing up they had been the best of friends, and now their children would be too, well, if they could help taunting one another for long enough. It wasn't only Izaak whose children were having a profound impact on his actions, she had to admit it was hers too. Spending all day with only children for company had its downfalls, not only were they messy but Melodie often found herself speaking to adults the way she would speak to her children - a force of habit - and she couldn't remember the last time she'd read any book more profound than one with a picture on every second page. It was driving her insane, which was the reason she'd jumped at the chance of a night out with her adult friend, hoping it would allow her to let loose and act like a grown up. Instead Melodie already found herself believing this night would see the two adults acting like teens, but she wasn't opposed to that idea at all. Standing back from Izaak she chuckled and admitted, "Mine are rubbing off on me too - literally," she gestured down at the mess on her dress and continued to try and mop it up. She had to agree a little with her friend, she was doing alright with the boys, as they were quite a challenge, especially when they had the tendency to all bounce of one another, getting all three of them (and Nate) worked up in the process. "Well hey, soon I'll be down to just one," she admitted, a little weary of packing the twins off to Hogwarts New Zealand in the next week, the house would feel quite empty without them and she still wondered how she'd cope, "What ever will I do with all my spare hands?" she begged the question not only to Izaak, but to herself also, for the last eleven years she'd had the two boys and soon she'd be down to just little Elias. Musing to herself she broke off the hug and looked up at Izaak, "Wait, I think I know..." she suggested, ""Your little girl is going to need an aunt to spoil her rotten!" Melodie was excited about the prospect of a little girl amongst the extended family, being that she and Izaak had both been blessed with boys in the recent years. Melodie gave Izaak a knowing look before he hugged her again, and this time squeezed his torso extra tightly, she knew he was terrified at the prospect of his daughter's birth, and she also remembered all too well the heartache she had nursed him through after losing both Cassie and Ella. But Melodie didn't want to dwell on that, instead she remained positive, "She is just going to be the most gorgeous girl with parents like you two" she chuckled and gave Izaak a wink.

With the apology of lateness Melodie suddenly remembered their date, "Oh don't worry about it, I still haven't gotten the boys off to bed," if anything his lateness had bought her some time. It seemed now Nathaniel would be left to somehow get all three boys calmed down and off to sleep, which would be no small feat, "Guess it's somebody else's problem now..." she said rather loudly, hoping Nate would catch the hint. Izaak was right though, their lives had become so different in the last decade, even the last couple of years. They had both grown up so much in her opinion, made a life for themselves, and most importantly left behind the tragedies they had both faced. Never could she have imagined as a teenager she would be a mother, let alone a mother of three, but she liked the modest life she and Nate had come to live, and was grateful to still have Izaak in her life through it all. As he mentioned leaving before the next disaster, Melodie had to agree, jumping forward and reaching for her purse before emptying out the contents onto the kitchen bench. from within its depths tumbled a half drunken bottle, a change of clothes for Elias, lipgloss, a muesli bar - it seemed everything but her keys were in there until, surely enough, they tumbled out from the bottom. "Aha!" she exclaimed, grabbing them and her coat alongside Izaak's hand as she dragged him towards the door, "Bye hunny love you good luck with the kids..." she called, spoken as quickly as she could as she ran out of the front door, Izaak in toe. "No backing out now" she chuckled as she shut the door behind them, still holding his hand. Melodie looked down and shook the hand loose suddenly realising she had lingered a little too long, "So, where to Mr. Finch?" she asked, grinning.

 

[Izaak Finch]

Izaak arched his eyebrows knowingly, giving a slow nod as Melodie alluded to the twins leaving for Hogwarts. Aiden and Lucas made him feel terribly old; he could still remember the day they had been born as if it were yesterday, when he had acted as a stand-in husband for Melodie. If he closed his eyes, he could almost feel the intensity she had squeezed his hand with, it had been bruised for a month after their birth. Now the troublemaking pair were headed off to Hogwarts and he would personally wish their future professors good luck if he could. The man had an inkling the twins would carry on the legacy that himself, Melodie and Marcus had left, perhaps with even more audacity than the three of them had. Family gatherings during the term would be oddly quiet without the two rambunctious boys running amuck and he, for one, would miss their antics. Izaak opened his mouth, about to cheekily suggest that she could baby sit his son and free up some time for Aly and himself. However at the alternative suggestion Melodie had brought up, Izaak bristled and forced her an uncomfortable smile. Of course, Izaak was terribly excited to meet his daughter but had, once again, put up walls to protect himself from the very real possibility of heartache. He didn't want to let the world in on his elation, fearing that building up his hopes for little Lucy would result in them all coming crashing back down, just as they had with Cassie and Ella. The man just had a horrible feeling that the couple's second pregnancy was not going to run as smoothly as the first, albeit its hiccup-free progress thus far. "I hope so, Mels," he replied quietly, trying to match her bright smile despite the unease in the pit of his stomach. "I really do."

Grateful for the subject change, Izaak settled comfortably into a chortle. He could only imagine attempting to put the three of them to bed; his poor cousin would certainly have his hands full tonight. As he pitied Nathaniel, Izaak noted how difficult it would be to have an adult's night out for all six of them. No sane person would be willing to take on Melodie's boys, Leah and Fletcher's three girls and Izaak and Aly's two on top of that. He supposed Tristan and Ava might be able to lend a hand but it was never as fun without the younger couple in the mix. That left Jay but Izaak didn't think the eighteen year old would appreciate that, not even if he had a little help from a certain Richarde. That being said though, Izaak was glad it was just himself and Melodie tonight, they certainly needed it. "Holy crap," Izaak remarked as he watched his friend raid her purse for her keys. It still baffled him how women felt the need to lug so many things around but he supposed it was all useful at one point or another. "Step aside, Mary. We have Melodie Poppins at our aid." Izaak laughed, shaking his head in mystery at his friend. Finally once she had retrieved the keys from the depths along with her coat, he felt her hand clasp around his own and pull him through the door. "Bye Nate, you unlucky bastard!" Izaak called out to his cousin with a laugh lacing his words, once Melodie had bade him her own cheeky farewell. The man was not sure if his cousin would appreciate the nerve of him, or the fact that Izaak was the one who was taking Melodie out when perhaps it should have been Izaak that was baby sitting the boys while the pair of them went out. Izaak looked down at their hands still clasped together as Melodie shut the door behind them. He understood, as he noted their lingering touch, why Nathaniel mightn't be overjoyed at the fact that he had swept his woman away with him tonight. There were strange circumstances that circled Izaak and Melodie, having dating on and off for years on end. However, it was all done and dusted now and Izaak came to the realisation that he didn't even care all that much. Especially not now, out in the crisp air where the now was now at their disposal.

"Well, Ms. Lowe," Izaak began, adopting the voice of a host as his blue eyes twinkled down at her but paused when he realised he hadn't gotten so far as to decide on a place. "I hadn't actually gotten that far but I was thinking we could try the new bar by the beach and play it by ear from there?" The man grinned sheepishly with a shrug of his shoulders, before offering her the crook of his elbow to link her arm with his own. "So how are things with Nate?" Izaak prodded gently as the pair began to stroll towards the main beach. He often wondered where the two of them were at in terms of their relationship and if his cousin made Melodie happy enough. It was only natural for the Finch to be guarded when it came to Melodie's significant others, even if it were his own cousin, because after having endured so much heartache in her life, she deserved a happy ending.

 

[Melodie Lowe]

Of course Melodie did feel a pang of remorse as the crisp air bit her ears and fingertips and she dropped her best friends hand to brace the cold. Her boyfriend, no, partner? Well she didn't really know what to call him right now, but Nathaniel was left home alone with three young boys, only one of them biologically his. Nate had been so wonderful to take on her small family, and often she wondered herself if he felt it was all worth it. The odd pair had come together under circumstances neither of them could have seen coming and most of the time it seemed they were complete opposites both in what they wanted and how they acted towards each other, constantly bickering over who had hidden the remote this time (it was Aiden), who had left the ice cream out (Lucas) or whose turn it was to bath their messy children (they had lost count). But in the end all this bickering came down to what was quite clear to both of them, they had chemistry, that much was apparent from the minute they were stuck in that rental car at Izaak's wedding. With Izaak now bringing up his cousin's relationship with her she began to call the night into question in her head, over thinking as she was wont to do. Even if Izaak had been joking, it was Nate who had come out unlucky for the evening, and knowing of she and Izaak's past it couldn't have been easy for him to let her walk out the door with him as 'dolled up' as she could have possibly gotten. Nate and Melodie had never defined their relationship even to one another, when Nate had discovered she was five months pregnant with their son of course he had promised to stand by her, but in the four years that followed they stayed living together, both too scared to ask where the relationship was leading or whether to take the next step. Melodie broke the crisp air with her lips as she slipped her arm around that familiar elbow of her best friend, "Well, to be honest," she admitted, "The closest we seem to get to romance is cleaning food off each other each night" and she wasn't wrong, though the pair shared a bed nine times out of ten a little boy, or two, or three, was in between them and she couldn't remember the last time they went out together. "But we're okay," she assured her friend, she knew he was protective of her, and what friend wouldn't be after what he had seen her go through, "Iz, I think I might be in love with him" she whispered like a silly school girl, as if afraid the father of her son would hear this confession. And a confession it was, Melodie was guarded and she hadn't said those words out loud before, even though it was implied, she had never actually told Nate where he stood.

From the outside looking in Melodie wondered what their little family must look like compared to say, Izaak's. Her friend had somehow manage to bag a gorgeous blonde in Alianne, and the most precious blonde curled little angel of a son in the package deal. Melodie herself had just proved in her small mess of an apartment that her 'partner' and she were less than perfect with their three brunette's in tow, muddy hands and muddy clothes to match. But musing upon that she wouldn't trade them for the world, especially with all she had been through. Mel wondered how things could have turned out for the best friends if that pregnancy scare they had a few years back had turned out to be more than, well, just a scare, and if they had ended up together. But she quickly dismissed that thought, for they were both happy in their current relationships, and had managed to stay friends, making an extended family for themselves even.

Pushing those thoughts aside, the pair strolled on, arms linked, towards the nearest bar. Melodie turned her head to look at her friend, "You know we don't have to walk..." she said, toying with the idea in her own head before suggesting it out loud, "What are all those years of school if we can't cut a few corners" she whispered in Izaak's ear. She was referring of course to apparition, the pair had passed all their tests and were perfectly capable, but she did now Izaak's apprehension to use magic of any kind after becoming so accustomed to the muggle lifestyle he had so desired. Melodie herself had too become used to going about everyday life without magic, it was a good twelve or so years since they had left Hogwarts, but sending her sons off had brought back all the memories of the times she, Izaak, and Marcus had when they were in school. "We could snatch a fire whisky, or two..." she whispered, daring, and challenging her friend with a familiar wicked glimmer in her eye, "Just like old times, right?" she said, warming to the idea herself. Melodie was getting older now, they both were, and with another one on the way their nights were numbered and this could be their last chance to relive their youth for quite some time. "C'mon Iz, no babies, just you, me, and some drinks!" she exclaimed, pulling her friend behind the nearest building, knowing he would need some convincing, but willing him to agree that apparating to the nearest Wizarding bar was where the real fun of the night would come into play.

 

[Izaak Finch]

As they strolled down the promenade, Izaak bowed his head towards his best friend as she began to speak, listening carefully to each word she breathed out into the cool night. A small frown knotted his brow at her admission, as he realised that the three boys not only took a toll on her as an individual but also on her relationship with Nate. Although Liam would crawl into bed with his parents if it were storming outside or when he awoke from a nightmare, the majority of nights he was asleep by nine o'clock and wouldn't wake until Izaak rose at dawn to train. He and Aly were lucky in that sense, that they still had their nights together but he could only wonder how the tables would turn once Lucy arrived. Surely, two children bouncing off one another would be a lot more difficult to manage than one. He could see that in both Melodie's boys and the Bennet's. Izaak nodded down at her as she reassured him and he would take her word for it. Still, he procured a laugh as her whisper carried across the ocean breeze. As an onlooker, Izaak could certainly say that their relationship was unlike any other he had ever observed. That was not to say it was bad or that it was wrong, it just seemed that the unlikely pair went about things in an unorthodox fashion. They essentially been together since his wedding day, which felt so long ago to the man, and in some ways they were still tip-toeing around one another. Izaak grinned down at his best friend, fisting his hands further in his coat pocket as a momentary gust picked up around them. "I think you should be telling him that, Mels." He chuckled softly. "The guy is obviously in love with you too. Like, taking on the twins is no mean feat." It was true, even Izaak had struggled at times with them when he had stayed at Melodie's for almost a year after the accident. "I'm really glad you're happy though." He smiled before leaning into his friend and pressing his lips to the top of her head.

They continued to make their way through the winter night until Izaak could feel Melodie's gaze lingering upon him. The man cocked his head to the side, wondering what plan she had concocted beneath those hazel eyes. It was a look he had seen countless times before and it usually followed with a brilliant plan that, for the most parts, he would be in agreement with. Izaak narrowed his azure eyes playfully and arched an eyebrow. "Mmm," Izaak mused, now that she had caught his attention. "I'm listening..." He prompted her as she trailed off. Izaak arched both brows at the allusion she whispered into his ear. It was rare that he apparated anyway these days, everything in Bondi seemed within an arm's reach and when he travelled on tour, he was forced to catch planes with the rest of the crew anyhow. The man hummed in partial agreement but did not disclose his verdict as he looked down at Melodie. There was a challenge glinting there in those wide eyes of hers, one that she knew he found impossible to refuse. He had been on the fence about the idea of venturing back into the wizarding world until he had caught that look. And now, Izaak caught himself missing the burn of fire whiskey sliding down his throat. "Damn it, Melodie." Izaak whined as she pulled him behind a building. Now concealed from sight, the thick timbre of his voice broke the cool air once more. "Here I was, trying to behave and happy to suck back a few muggle beers until just now." The man shook his head at her; a knowing smirk crept over his lips. "You're a bad influence, Melodie Lowe." And with that, Izaak bundled his best friend in his arms, still shaking his head at her in good-natured disbelief, and apparated the pair of them into the heart of Sydney's wizarding community. With a pop, the pair appeared and almost immediately, Izaak knew that they had made the right decision. The sound of pints of butterbeer clanging together, the smell of cinnamon in the air, the enchantment that embodied each and every store that lined the cobbled street - despite Izaak's usual aversion to wizarding world, brought on by none other than dear old Papa Finch, the ambience etched a smile onto his face. "Sometimes I forget how fun it can be to be a wizard." He admitted to Melodie with a sheepish grin, having to raise his voice somewhat over the lively locals.

 

[Melodie Lowe]

A small smile broke Melodie's lips as her friend advised her to tell Nathaniel of her true affections, though she had only just come to terms with them herself she knew Izaak's advice to be true. After all, he did seem so happy in his marriage to Alianne, and Melodie had to admit she had toyed at the idea of becoming Mrs Nathaniel Hilsinger. She blushed at the thought as though she were a teenager again, scrawling this name across her notebooks. Unfortunately for Melodie she was in her thirties now, far from a teenager, though with the night ahead of her she was planning on acting anything but her age. With Nathaniel taking on the twins like Izaak had said, Mel had no worries in her mind they were in safe hands. She had thought it would be a laborious task convincing her friend to use his wizarding talents after he had spend the better part of his life now trying to forget them altogether, so Melodie couldn't help but jest, "C'mon Finch, daddy isn't here now," she chuckled again, her old smile taking her right back to her youth, her best friend's expression mimicking her own. It was true that Izaak's father had played a large part in his aversion to all things magical, but in this aversion she felt he was forgetting all the fun they had as Hogwarts students themselves, and the mischief and fun that magic could cause, especially now in the hands of two experienced and adult wizards. "If I'm such a bad influence, then why is it you always have such fun when I'm around?" Melodie joked, she was only this way around her best friend, and Marcus of course. Sure enough Izaak took the bait of her words just as she hoped he would and with a pop they arrived outside a wizarding pub, breaking their hug swiftly as they hurried inside, the warmth and smell drawing them in not only to the bar but memories of their younger years. Izaak was right, being a wizard was fun, it was a shame the two didn't put their talents to use more often, especially after seven years of study. "Fun hmm," she teased, pulling herself up to the bar, "Two fire whiskies!" she demanded rather impatiently, slapping her hands down on the bar top as she turned to Izaak, having to raise her voice to speak to him above the crowd. "Tell me again why we try so hard not to use magic?" she chuckled, she could have used some spells for all those diapers she had changed in her time so far as a mother, although the muggle community at Bondi did have its appeal.

Their drinks arrived in no time at all, and Melodie quickly raised her glass to Izaak's, "To magic!" she proposed a toast, although the pair had had their differences with magic, it was what had bought them together in the first place. Melodie had been one of the only children allowed to play with the pureblooded Izaak because she had wizarding blood in her, and she couldn't forget all the pranks and trouble the pair had caused as children with the help of their wands, "And Merlin's help to Hogwarts" she added, thinking of her twins beginning there in just one week. Taking a sip the taste of the drink brought her right back to her younger years, was she really old enough to be reminiscing about her youth? "You know, I think its you who is the bad influence," she began, smiling at Izaak, "Those boys are going to hit the ground running as soon as they get off the train" she mused, shaking her head at her two little trouble makers. She was almost certain uncle Izaak had played a part in the cheeky nature of her older sons, but truly she couldn't have asked for a better stand in father, even if he did allow them a few too many treats and work them up a little too often. But that was enough talk of children, for Melodie feared she'd grow tearful if she thought too much of her sons growing off, and she wasn't about to go soft on their night out, so, chugging her fire whisky and feeling the burn against her throat, Melodie Lowe slammed the empty glass down on the bar and jumped down from her seat, a little courage was all she had needed and now she wanted to dance, "What are you waiting for?" she demanded of her friend, still nursing his drink at the bar, "Come and dance with me! she pleaded, this time pulling Izaak by the hand into the crowd. Ignoring the fact that the music wasn't exactly suited to such bouts of dancing Melodie began moving her hips, a smile creeping across her face.

 

[Izaak Finch]

Izaak could not stop the smile from spreading across his face as the pair of friends made their way to the bar. This was most definitely what he had needed as of late. Day in and day out, Izaak had been keeping to a strict and strenuous training routine in preparation for the Fijian leg of the ASP World Tour that he would be leaving for next week. There had been business meetings, press conferences, interviews and on top of all that, the fear of something happening Alianne and little Lucy while he was away had Izaak wanting to tear his hair out. Even now, as Melodie ordered their drinks, Izaak felt his anxieties mounting at the idea of next week. With a shake of his head, he gulped the thought away and reminded himself that it was not the time or the place for such morose dwellings. Casting his friend a long, sideways glance at her somewhat rhetorical question, Izaak snorted into spite of himself. The mind frame he had worked himself into for all these years seemed quite silly to the majority of his wizarding friends, and Izaak could see why. Melodie understood better than anyone else did, except for Leah of course, as she had been one of the only people to meet his malevolent father. And yet, he gave a shrug of his broad shoulders, a stupid smile lacing his expression. As their drinks arrived, his best friend spared no time in fashioning a toast, one he repeated with a crooked smile. "To magic, indeed." His blue eyes gleamed over the amber liquid, laughter tumbling from his lips at the thought of her twins ransacking the Hogwarts castle. "May Merlin have mercy on those poor professors' souls."

Their glasses chinked together as the pair continued to chuckle over the behaviour of her boys and Izaak brought the drink to his lips, letting the alcohol slide a searing path down his throat. Admittedly, he much preferred the taste of an ice-cold beer but the circumstances tonight called for something a little stronger. The man arched his eyebrows challengingly as Melodie began to speak once more, pretending to appear both shocked and offended by her suggestion. "Wow, I am officially insulted, Melodie Lowe." Izaak began, holding his hand over his heart as if she had driven her words painfully into his chest. "I have been nothing but a responsible and disciplinary father figure to those boys." It was only for a few more seconds that Izaak managed to hold his serious façade until a knowing smirk sidled onto his expression, a scheming glint in his bright blue eyes. Izaak was well aware that he might be responsible for a part of the twins trouble-making but even he, as a young boy, could not have held a candle to the kind of trouble Aiden and Lucas stirred up. Shaking his head at her, Izaak smiled into his glass and took another mouthful of the firewhiskey. He was content to pace himself and enjoy the heat that pulsated through him with every sip, but Melodie seemed to have other ideas. The man could not help but to chuckle as she threw her drink back, Merlin knows she needed this, moreso than he did. And Izaak was happy to join her for the ride. "Alright, alright!" He laughed, managing to down his drink in a few gulps as Melodie dragged him from the bar.

In the midst of the crowd of wizarding folk, Melodie had seemingly decided, was a suitable spot for their ventures. Initially, Izaak simply watched his friend with a smile as she began to dance to the oddly suited music. He was glad that he had broken her out of her apartment tonight, she certainly wore the taste of freedom well. Wanting to try it on himself, it was not long before Izaak joined her. His eyes occasionally swept over the hoard of witches and wizards, but always managed to land with a twinkle right back on his best friend. Soon the song ended and another took its place, one that caused the pair's eyes to light up beyond all excitement as it was one that had been very popular in their fifth year at Hogwarts, one that he remembered belting out jokingly in the hallways between classes with Marcus and Melodie either side of him. "They must have known we were coming tonight," Izaak teased, raising his voice over the height of the music before reaching for his friend's hand. He lifted it above her head and spun her in a perfect circle, a smile seemingly plastered on his lips. All the stressful thoughts that had plagued him were miles away now, all thanks to one Melodie Lowe.