"Yes, I Am Serious, Xavier"

[Vincent Chevalier]

Vincent had sent a letter out to Xavier about meeting him at a French jewelry store in the wizarding world. Vincent had a day off and he needed this. Ever since that encounter with that punk, Aiden or something or another, Vincent realized that he wanted to marry Alyssa. Though he did not know when to ask her to marry him just yet. He needed a ring though, and the ring he had in mind was anything pretty. No matter the beauty of it though, it would never compare to Alyssa's beauty and mind. That was something that Vincent cherished and would hope never changed. Vincent was in love, and he was acting out of what he thought was right.

Amauri did not know about Vincent coming here to buy an engagement ring. Vincent waited outside with his arms crossed for Xavier. What he did not know right now was that there was an engagement ring in the store, waiting for him to buy. All he had to do was wait for Xavier because he needed his opinion. Vincent knew about jewelry, but a best friend needed to be here for this. This was a huge moment in Vincent's life, and this would confirm his love and commitment to his beloved girlfriend.

 

[Xavier Snow]

Tonight had been an enjoyable but a long night for Xavier as well, His Quidditch team had won a game last night and they all wanted to go out and celebrate their victory. And last night Xavier partied hard, he drank, spent some time with girls, and just overall had a good time until he unfortunately had to crash and ended up going home drunker than he probably had ever been in a long time. He would have slept through the day too if it hadn't been for an owl flying through his bedroom window and screeching in his ears until he was forced to wake up. He grabbed the letter and opened it up before peering closely to read it, which would've been way easier if he was suffering from a really nasty hangover at the moment. The letter was from his best friend Vincent and told him that the really wanted him to meet him in front of some well known Jewelry Store in France. Why he wanted him there, he had no idea but it sounded like it was important. And as much as Xavier wanted to crawl back into the covers and sleep away his headache and after affects of him being drunk he figured that Vincent needed him. Slowly and tiredly he pulled himself out of his bed and dressed himself. He also went to the mirror and fixed his hair and such a little before he finally figured he looked as good as anyone with a hangover could get and headed out of his home to where he could Apparate to the Jewelry Store. The moment he arrived her saw his friend standing outside the door with his arms crossed.

"Sorry I'm late, I um....had a rough night. What's up man?" Xavier was aware that Vincent could probably tell that he was drunk last night and such, the look in his eyes and appearance pretty much just screamed it. The store looked pretty fancy from what the blonde could see so he assumed that his best friend was buying some jewelry for Alyssa or maybe a family member of his. Why did this involve him though?

 

[Vincent Chevalier]

"Oi, when will Xavier get here?" Vincent uttered under his breath as he stared up into the blue sky. Clouds slowly hovered by, and the sky seemed to be a little happier than some days with rumbling storms and heavy rain. Vincent ran his hand through his sandy hair, before his eyes glanced to the side to see the hung over Xavier. Blue orbs widened to their maximum capacity. Vincent had never drunk a drop in his life, and stayed away from the drunk people, thus never witnessed a hang over from anyone before and never had one as well. Though it was easy to tell the signs from what his father had told him a while back. Amauri only drank on occasion, and he was a funny drunk, and one irritated male in the morning. Amauri had enough respect to not drink while Vincent was at home and all. Vincent never had to care for someone while they were in a hang over, but he knew better than to yell.

They usually had headaches, right? Vincent examined Xavier's clothing, and he raised an eyebrow. Rough night? Vincent was not going to buy that, not even for a knut. Vincent pointed out, "Rough night? I doubt drinking til you are no longer sober is considered rough. But I'll give you a break today." Vincent put his hand on the Quidditch player's shoulder, and a friendly smile as well. Vincent did not want to say out loud what he was up to, but after picking out the right one, Xavier might figure it out. "Nothing much though, bro. We just need to pick out a gorgeous ring. Should be easy in here, right?" Vincent chuckled as he entered the store. He glanced around the place, seeing how things were organized. He walked over to the cases where the rings were being held out on display. Xavier would help him pick out a good ring, though his eye was looking at the one that resembled a flower, the one that was waiting for him.

 

[Xavier Snow]

Xavier watched carefully as Vincent's blue eyes widened greatly, he figured that his friend was surprised to see him actually arrive and most likely looking like crap. Once thing Xavier knew about his best friend was that he was such a good guy that he probably would have done nothing like what Xavier had go through last night. This is probably why his little sister liked Vincent so much, he was such a good compared to most out there. No wonder he had a trail of girls following after him in school as well. "Okay you got me. My teammates and I were celebrating last night and before I knew it two drinks turned into like..a lot. Lots of hot chicks though." Xavier muttered tiredly before he managed a small wink to Vincent. He knew his friend was hooked on one girl and one girl only but Xavier was free as a bird however and was going to be playing the field until either the one he did truly care about came back to him or he found someone else he could find to keep close to his heart. Sometimes the blonde was tempted to ask how he and his sister met but then he tried to remember if Vincent had ever mentioned ever meeting a girl. Apparently he had a thing for her since his fourth year and on. Xavier felt Vincent place a hand on his shoulder before he turned turn his face to see him also give a smile. He then said they were here to buy a gorgeous ring, and how they should be able to find one in there. The blonde shrugged his shoulders and followed his friend in. He was pretty sure that they could find a ring inside easily, but the moment they walked inside Xavier knew that this place was definitely not cheap. Sure he was almost a celebrity and had a bit of cash but the rings in here would still need quite a bit of saving to purchase.

"I'm just going to assume that this ring is for Alyssa then. Any particular type your looking for?" Xavier commented as he stared into the glass cases with interest, some of the rings were gorgeous colors. He found the ones with blues and silver to often be the prettiest. But if Vincent was looking for a certain type then he would narrow his search. To be honest he wasn't all that good at picking out Jewelry for someone, how Vincent had any idea what to pick was against him. Walking over to Vincent quickly he muttered. "Dude these rings are really expensive, are you sure you wanna get one from here?" He knew that his sister was growing up with the finest, and Vincent probably was closed to being that way too but did his sister really do anything that deserved her one of these. Luckily from what he heard she loved him a lot. Xavier just hoped she knew how lucky she was to have a guy care about her and willing to spend money on her and put up with the attitude, and the feathers.

 

[Vincent Chevalier]

Vincent rolled his eyes and chuckled when Xavier mentioned the part about a lot of chicks. "Congrats on the win though, which is what I hope you were celebrating," Vincent smiled at his best friend. He had never been with a girl other than Alyssa, and neither of them have gone all the way either. It was something he preferred and Vincent would wait until the honeymoon so that the earth would really quake beneath their feet. Vincent turned from Xavier so he could look at the rings. He was looking for one that would shine like the sun, and glitter like a Twilight Vampire. Vincent's blue orbs wondered from ring to ring as he imagined it on Alyssa's left ring finger, to see which one would suit her the most. She could not be here to pick it out, but he still needed it in his mind. He was a fashionable guy. Vincent answered Xavier without looking at him, "Oh a diamond one. A big, diamond one." The less specific, the better. Xavier would figure it out.

Then he saw it, the ring that was waiting on him. Vincent waved over some assistance and he got it out of the glass case. He was given the ring, and Vincent held it in his hand. It was perfect. Vincent paid for it and he showed it to Xavier in the box. "What do you think? A hefty price, but I think she is worth it, don't you?" Vincent wondered if Xavier would get the fact that is was an engagement ring. Vincent wanted to tell him, but there was that desire to see the look on his face when he figured it out. His expression might be the best part of the day, who knew?

 

[Xavier Snow]

Xavier turned and snickered at his best friends response to what he was out doing last night. Of course he was really celebrating with his teammates last night and not just intending to be with girls, that was just a bonus. "Yeah you better be happy on France's win, unless your completely a New Zealand fan now." Xavier joked placing a hand on his chest, pretending to be hurt by even the thought of his best friend being a full New Zealand when his nationality was French. He knew that very few people actually stayed here though. Like he knew for a fact that once she graduated Alyssa intended to go back to France. Not that Xavier really blamed her. The Death Eater activity was increasing here and with the whole Election thing going on it was really just a hassle to be around. Especially when you were in fact a family member of one of the Candidate's. There was this one guy also running that was highly prejudice, if he won there'd be no room for people like Alyssa anyways. A part of Xavier thought it was bad to almost agree him but the other thought that no one really needed muggles anyways. But he was a full supporter of his aunt, even if he had never met her. Xavier turned his eyes onto Vincent carefully as he watched the man continue to search for a beautiful ring that would suit Alyssa really well. He wanted a big diamond too. An eyebrow of Xavier's raised before he turned to look at the rings again for a big diamond. Okay now his little sister was going to get really spoiled. But the fact that Vincent wanted a ring with a big diamond on it was almost suspicious. Xavier continued to look though until he turned to see what looked like Vincent asking to take one of the rings out. The blonde hurried over it to see what it looked like and such.

The first look of the ring that Xavier got and he had to admit it was a very pretty but expensive looking ring. He looked at the price and nearly coughed. Vincent then spoke to him and the whole time Xavier stared at Vincent was a raised eyebrow. "Feh, no. I can't believe you just spent a lifesavings worth of money on her either." Xavier muttered truthfully and almost bitterly when Vincent ask if he thought she was worth it and what he thought. As much as Xavier loved his little sister he had to many downs with her to really think that she deserved much. Plus the little pigeon was stealing Xavier's best from him. Everytime they hung out now it was Alyssa this, Alyssa that. He adored them both but sometime he would rather not be around loopy love-sick people all the time. After awhile of staring at the ring he suddenly noticed that it looked very similar to an Engagement ring that a guy would give to a girl during a proposal. "Uh dude, did you know that you bought an Engagement ring?" Xavier assumed that Vincent must have bought it on accident when trying purchase a gift for Alyssa. It was a pretty ring so he almost saw how someone could easily make a mistake over it. It was too hard to think of his best friend planning on getting married anyways.

 

[Vincent Chevalier]

Going out and getting drunk was not on the Auror’s lists of things to do. Vincent was not the type of person to do something like that. He had to be the good person in this, and no amount of influence anyone had would change Vincent’s straight-forward mind. Vincent shrugged lightly and he joked, “Completely for the New Zealanders, don’t you know. Or actually, just any other team against yours.” Vincent shook his head and he wondered what playing Quidditch professionally was like. Though Vincent started to wonder what he and Alyssa would do if that Hensel guy that he was guarding won the Ministry Election. Vincent did not know if he wanted to return to France, but if that is what Alyssa wanted then he would gladly move there. He could go to hell and back for his woman. He was strongly committed to her, and he had bought the right ring just to prove it. The ring had cost him a fortune that he had saved up from all of his extra time at work. In the end, he knew that it would be worth it in the end. Vincent just had a feeling that it would work.

Though, actually proposing got Vincent a little queasy. Vincent rolled his eyes at Xavier’s comment. “Oh please, she is your sister. You better be lucky she isn’t with some jerk and all. Besides, when you fall in love, you will see just what I mean.” Surely Xavier felt a little happy that Alyssa ended up with a good guy. Though he could see some of the bitterness. Vincent’s thoughts were mostly on his girlfriend, but that was common for now. Things will fade as he gets used to it. Things usually fade, but never the power of love. He just needed a little time to get to where he would not talk about her all the time. Vincent was head over heels for her though. Vincent led his best friend outside of the store as now the ring was purchased. Then Xavier pointed out that it was an engagement ring. Vincent snapped the box closed and he pocketed it. His bright blue eyes went to his best friend and he said, “I know it is an engagement ring.” Vincent now had to wait for the moment for it to connect in his mind. To figure out that Vincent was going to propose to Alyssa.

 

[Xavier Snow]

Xavier felt bad that he wasn't exactly so supportive about Alyssa and Vincent being together and stuff but sometimes it was just hard to see past the fact that one was his best friend and one was his little sister. "Dude to be honest it's just weird you know? My best friend and my little sister dating and being all in love? I remember back when you and I met in our first year and stuff. You were so..arrogant and you thought that girls had cooties! And you had all the girls after you too..." Xavier pointed out with a small chuckle as he thought about back to when he and Vincent were younger and way less into woman then they were obviously now. It was hard to think that Vincent and him had been best friends since they were in their First Year. In fact the two of them had met on the way to Beauxbatons. Never did Xavier even dare to think that Vincent would some day fall for his little sister. In fact up until their fifth year he had never heard a word about her from anyone until one day Vincent came back from a shopping trip and kept talking about this girl. Now here he was acting like the biggest love-struck loser alive. They may have been best friends and probably always would be but there was a time and a place where Xavier just couldn't handle it anymore. "But as long as you two keep your hands to yourselves and your clothes on when I'm around I think I won't mind. Just promise you won't let anything happen to her..alright?" Xavier pat his best friend on the shoulder and smiled at him softly. The biggest worry for Xavier other than it being gross was them going through a bad break up and him having to pick sides. Him and Vincent had been buddies for years but Alyssa was family and pretty scary when she was mad. Then again he could see those two lasting for awhile. They seemed really happy together.

Xavier raised an eyebrow at Vincent when the man snapped the box with the ring inside of it closed and pocketed it. He had just been told that it was an engagement ring yet he was still going to keep it. Then he told him that he knew it was an engagement ring and suddenly it clicked in Xavier's mind. Vincent was going to propose to Alyssa. "Oh Vincent no...you cannot be seriously thinking about asking Alyssa to marry you! What the hell is going on through your head?" He thumped Vincent on the arm as she started at him with widened blue eyes. Xavier looked like he had just seen a ghost or something else horrible. Seriously this was not a good idea and Xavier could tell him right away all the bad things that could come of that. All he had to do was look at the Snow Family and also think about his age, would those two really work well together?

 

[Vincent Chevalier]

"I guess people grow up from their days of being first years. But I guess if I had a little sister, well, I think I would be hounding on the boyfriend than the sister. You know, you are backward," Vincent pointed out. "Ah, the memories of school." But after he thought about it, he would not take anything back that he did not have to. This was good for him. Being in love, but he needed to learn to keep it low key for Xavier's sake. Vincent was glad to be out of school though. He did not need so many girls coming after him like they had, it was rather stupid to him. He hated people like that. Xavier sounded like a big brother just then, and it made Vincent give him a warm smile. Vincent would never let anything happen to Alyssa, and he would jump in front of a knight bus to knock her out of the way, he loved her so much. No one could ever take her place in his mind. Though it was still a little odd for him to be dating his best friend's sister. Though it does happen however. He also tried to forget that Xavier thought that he was in love with Gabrielle or whoever that other girl was. He had forgotten. "I promise I will not let anything will happen to her, Xavier. Besides, I believe in sex after marriage."

Vincent waited for that little hamster in Xavier's head to freak out when he realized that what he had was an engagement ring. This would be most interesting for him. Xavier would not react well, and Vincent almost counted down in his mind. Then it happened, the explosion. Vincent let out a soft sigh and he shrugged lightly, "I love her with every ounce of my being, Xavier. I know just what is going through my mind. I don't know when I would propose yet, but when the time comes, I will know. I just hope that I don't chicken out of it, you know?" Vincent shrugged lightly, and he smiled at Xavier. It was not like he was going to go to the school and ask her then and there. He was going to wait a bit before he would. Just needed a sign to figure it out.

 

[Xavier Snow]

"Want me to start hounding you then? I miss being a little kid sometimes. I guess the thought of us growing up and you wanting to get married is a...little overwhelming. And then you'd go from my best friend..to my brother-in-law." Xavier laughed when he thought of his childhood and how much things had changed since their days of being first years and such. But the reality that they were now Adults and that the fun was over. They both had jobs, had their own money, had moved out and away from their parents to live on their own. But the thought of one of them getting married and stuff was almost a shock to Xavier's heart. For some reason though he could see Vincent being a good husband to well, Alyssa if that was what fate wanted for them. His best friend would never be able to avoid him now because if it happened they would be related by marriage, and to think that they used to joke about being brothers and stuff. The next set of words from Vincent made Xavier snort softly. "Sex after marriage? Mmmhmm, if you say so dude." Xavier winked before he flicked some of his blonde hair out of his face and stared at the pocket that held the boxed Engagement ring in it. He was tempted to snatch it right out of the mans pocket and not let him have it back just because he knew that once that ring was given it would be over. At the same time he knew better. Vincent was in love and it seemed like his mind was made up.

"Dude your walking yourself into a big mess of trouble. Are you sure it's worth it? We still have time to return the ring." Xavier muttered softly as she learned against the wall of the shop that they had purchased the ring from. There was the Snow Family, Money, a House, telling his father, Alyssa still being in school. There were a bunch of factors in the way. Was love really strong enough to the point where you'd be willing to risk everything like that? Was he feeling enough for Trilby to make him want to risk everything. "If your really going to go through with this Vincent, you need to start planning as soon as possible. You also need to think about whats going to happen if she...well if she says no." Xavier knew the no word was the last thing any man wanted to think about when proposing to a girl but at the same time there was always a chance. Alyssa would probably love it though. Before he knew what happened the two of them would come rushing in like idiots and stuff, it was so cute it made him sick.

 

[Vincent Chevalier]

Vincent thought for a moment. Did he want Xavier to really hound on him? Vincent was wanting to point out so much that sometimes Xavier acted like a little kid but Vincent smirked in his mind, allowing a little of one to cross his handsome features. “I know it is a little overwhelming. But it is not like I am getting married…say tomorrow or something. We have always been close enough to be brothers, and this might just make it official, eh?” Vincent shrugged lightly, and he hoped to one day be married, have children and a stable job though he had the job part handled. He was saving up for a house of his own. Vincent loved living with Raffael, sure, and next door to his girlfriend, but one could only live in an apartment for so long. Vincent wanted a house to call his very own. Could someone really blame the Auror? Vincent smirked, “I’ve lasted this long, I think I can last until the honeymoon.” Vincent had urges, but he had more self control over anything else. Vincent just knew that if Alyssa wanted to go all the way, and used her Veela charm on him, he was screwed. He could not fight against her charms if she had used them against him.

“You do crazy things, when you are in love. I don’t want to return the ring, so give it up, Xavier. You aren’t changing my mind,” Vincent rolled his blue eyes and laughed lightly. Vincent was easily amused by Xavier and this was why Vincent had chosen him for his best friend. Vincent never thought about Alyssa saying no. She did not seem the type. His eyes averted and went to the ground, his shoes to be more specific. Vincent coughed and the Auror did not know what exactly to do if she rejected him. Well, try again! Vincent commented, “Well, I will start planning as soon as possible. But if she refuses, then it can wait another year or so. Trust me, Xavier, everything will be perfect.” Vincent checked the time and he said, “I hate to wrap this up, but I have to leave to check on things in the Auror’s office.” Vincent would not leave yet, but he would see if Xavier had anything else to say before departing.

 

[Xavier Snow]

Xavier bit his lip before he stared off towards the ground. Being brothers with his best friend like they had always talked about would be pretty fun but he was still sort of unhappy about losing his best friend someday. Marriage was going to change everything for both of them. Maybe one day Xavier would find a girl worth his time and maybe his life, the one he wanted didn't want him back so he obviously needed to be on the lookout for another. "Vincent I'm sorry man, it's just that Marriage is going to change everything for us. Engagement is even going to change some things." For starters would be that the whole family would suddenly become very interested in Vincent and would probably be all over him with questions and stuff. Especially the other girls in the family. He would probably make Alphonse a little unhappy, Theodore wouldn't be happy either. There was just a lot that was going to happen if Alyssa accepted. Then again with Vincent being an Auror they might not want anything to do with him. Only time would tell what really happened to him. In a way it was all up to Alyssa. when Vincent said he figured he could last until the Honeymoon Xavier shook his head. "I bet you a hundred Galleons that you won't make it that long." It wasn't that he doubted Vincent, it was that he knew how Veela's could be sometimes. If Alyssa wanted to use that charm on him then Vincent would probably be screwed over. That Charm was a nasty piece of work to deal with. And it got even worse apparently if the person had more Veela blood in them, and his little sister was just about as close in blood as you could get without being an Actual Veela. With a smirk he wondered if Vincent would actually bet him.

"This isn't crazy, this is stupid But fine keep the ring and do whatever you want. Planning soon sounds like a good idea, you know how my sister can be, You better be really careful what you say and do too so you don't ruin it. If she catches on at all you could be in big trouble, she's a lot smarter than she looks." Xavier commented with a small shrug. He wasn't very sure about any of this but he supposed that he couldn't stop Vincent from doing what he wanted. If things blew up in his face then it would be his own problem and not anyone else's. If things worked smoothly, he could see Alyssa saying yes. But one thing he knew that Vincent would need to be careful of was not letting Alyssa catch on at all. She was after all quite a smart-pants. When Vincent said that he needed to check on things at the Aurors office Xavier sighed and nodded his head softly, telling him that he understood and he was free to leave. Xavier was ready to sleep off his hangover anyways.