Placeholder for Jos/Bishop.

All,

My brothers and I had a trip to Manchester to do a quick photoshoot. The lives of supposed rock stars...

I'll be home on Tuesday. If I don't see you sooner, Happy Holidays!


Rose

( Attached )

"That is skin tight. Take it off."

"Make me!"

"Eww," came the voice from the ground, looking up at his siblings with a grimace on his face. "Don't make her take it off. I'd rather not have a vomit for Christmas."

( Everywhere you turn )

Placeholder for Ron & Susan's date Saturday night. Even though it's Sunday morning now.

Gwen waited for Romy to arrive just behind her. The international Apparation points to Paris were busy this time of year, given the season, but her sister-in-law shouldn't be too far behind her.

The door opened across the atrium and a chill breeze blew in. Gwen cinched her coat tighter and adjusted her scarf. Her brother was alternately chipper and ill-tempered, cooped up as he was, and Gwen knew Romy had been in the manor with him almost non-stop since he'd been hurt.

A little time away from everything would do them both a bit of good.

( ... it usually involves shopping. )

Ron shuffled into the kitchen trying to come up with the best way to ask Susan to dinner that weekend without being suspicious. He had gotten her ring the week before, with Ginny's help of course. Her response had been less than helpful but in the end she pulled through. He had kept the ring on him at all times, worried he wouldn't hide it well enough or if he'd left it in his locker it'd get taken. He gripped his pocket subconsciously, which he did every once in a while. He was so nervous he'd lose it.

( Such occasions should always be viewed with suspicion. )

Shooed in the general direction of 'the master's sitting room' by one of the house elves, who were likely used to all the people tromping about now that Joscelin was awake, Regan paused to let Tess tuck one little hand into her grasp before leading the way. She was glad and grateful that she could speak to Joscelin and have him answer, though a minute fraction nervous about seeing him, as they'd spoken little since her return to Gwen, and much had changed since they'd been friends.

Glancing down as they approached the lounge door, the tug on her hand halting her before she crossed the threshold, she arched an eyebrow at the pixie gazing up at her. "Yes?"

"Big man 'wake now?" Tess asked for the umpteenth time that morning. "Gonna say hello again?"

Nodding patiently, Regan confirmed, "He won't remember you from last time, feyling, so you'll have to introduce yourself again now that he's awake." She knew her own nerves likely weren't helping the girl, and took a deep breath before stepping into the familiar room with its heavy, masculine furniture.

Joscelin was seated in an odd chair with wheels instead of feet, a deck of cards abandoned on a table as he stared into the fire. He looked wan, though far healthier than the last time she'd seen him, and Regan moved closer hesitantly, offering, "Good morning... I hope you don't mind a bit of a break from your solitude. I did leave the dog home," with a trace of smile.

( ...to rediscover a friend. )

He didn't know what he was doing. He'd met Joscelin only three times before, and one of those had been accompanying Gwen to the small house in Ottery St. Catchpole that was doubling as an emergency clinic.

One of the other times Gwen's brother had been an Ass.

And the other time, Jonathan had been sniffing around Gwen's bushes and almost gotten hexed from the man for his troubles.

( ... but come down into the green valleys of silliness )

Lavender had always hated winter, but she was currently grateful for the cold, brisk wind whipping through Camden. Long sleeves hid the dripped-wax like scars that covered her arms at the moment. She liked to think that she was much less vain than she'd been in school - much less - but she was still a girl.

While scars tended to be sexy on men, they drew stares when they marred the skin of a woman. A horrible double standard, and one Lavender had given much thought to over the last few weeks she'd been hiding at Percy's.

Hiding.

( ... and not many things more uncommon )

Gin,

I've decided to ask Susan to marry me. A little help picking out the ring on Tuesday? I have the first half of the day off.

R

Katie,

I hope you're feeling better than the last time I saw you. I should have checked up much earlier, but Catter's End has been so full of people that it's been hard to even think straight for the last few weeks. However, it looks like we may have the house to ourselves fairly soon. The renovations at the clinic are almost finished, and we hope to be fully functionally any day now.

But my life is not the one we're celebrating today. That'd be yours.

The boys are stunning, Katie, and I know Fred is infinitely lucky to have you, as are the rest of us Weasley's at being able to call you sister.

I hope the day was full of delicious sweets and plenty of naps being stolen.

Love,
Ginny

( Birthday Presents )

(Thanks to late notifications, this is going up a bit late... but I don't think Katie will mind. ^.^)


Katie,

Happy Birthday, love. I know your own birthday tends to fall by the wayside when you have little ones to think of, to love, but never forget that there are people you love you dearly and are happy to have you in their lives. Arthur and I are so glad to have you as a part of our family, so glad you've blessed us with two beautiful grandbabies to spoil.

Hopefully these will help you catch a few moments of sleep between the hurricanes that are Weasley twins.

Love,
Mum and Dad
( Attached )

The little hand tucked into hers was warm and trusting. Tess still looked at her oddly sometimes, as if she wasn't quite sure Gwen wouldn't bite, but the more time she spent at White Chapel, the more she seemed to constantly be in Gwen's shadow about the gallery.

"Are you ready, Miss Tess?"

"Goin' to doctors?" Tess queried, tipping her head back to look up at Gwen. "Not sick," she protested, though she knew she was going anyway, because Gwen had said so.

( ... I won't quit 'til I find you. )

Their naps were further and farther apart these days, especially as her little Weasley twins preferred to scoot about and try their feet at walking. It was one of the reasons Katie was tip-toeing down the stairs, careful to avoid the creaky step three from the bottom.

When she finally made it back to the kitchen, she let out a little sigh of relief and nearly collapsed into a chair at the table. "I made it."

( ... and the world spins madly on. )

Lisa stepped into the lobby of Vaisey Wards with a mild feeling of trepidation. She wasn't a woman to take risks most of the time. Experience had taught her it was better to play it safe rather than chance a bad outcome. Visiting her former fiance at his office was frought with risk, though. They were likely to ask her name before letting her see Jared. It was quite possible her would-be father-in-law would be in the office, or would hear about her visit later. Jared might not have any interest in speaking with her or he might be out of the office. Someone from her husband's 'circle' might see her. Any and all of those things could lead to her husband finding out where she was, and Xavier Travers would not be pleased with that piece of information.

( ...than that of returning thanks. )

Rose didn't go Christmas shopping often. She usually only had a few people, family, to buy gifts for. This year, though, she had a whole new house of people to buy for. Not to mention Euan.

"Euan," she said to herself, bright lips curling in concentration as she trailed down the streets of Diagon Alley, looking in the Holiday-themed windows, frosty because of the turn of weather. The continent had taken a decidedly cooler hit, enough that gloves were required and your breath could be seen hanging in the air. "Euan Euan Euan..."

( ... you may be very wrong )

Joscelin eyed his sister a long time, hazel eyes drifting from where she held one of his hands in both of hers, up to her face where her gaze was distant. Her eyes were seemingly on their combined hands, but Joscelin knew better than to suspect that Gwen was anywhere near the room at all. Many of her visits since he had awoken had been much the same.

The first, she'd cried and held him. Since though, every visit had been a warm greeting, her reaching for him as if she was still surprised he was there and cognizant, and then only occasionally speaking when she realized she hadn't been for awhile.

He was fine enough with it, all things considered, but when she squeezed his hand, or her eyes got glassy, it worried him.

( ... bang, bang, bang )

To whom it may concern,

I know your offices were recently damaged on Halloween, but Healer Weasley cared for my brother that night. Many of my family have referenced her to me, and if at all possible, I'd like to make an appointment for a charge of mine, a five year old girl, for a general health check up.

If this can be arranged, please let me know a suitable time and date.

Thank you,

Gwen Jones

Lifting their entwined hands, Bishop pressed a kiss to the back of Dora's hand. Bundled against the cold, they were strolling through the square, one of the very few historic areas in Brussels. Most of the city had been rebuilt once it became the capitol of the new country of Belguim in the late nineteenth century. His mother was watching Jude so they could spend some time together on their own for their first anniversary.

"Happy anniversary, love," he said, smiling down at the most beautiful face he knew. "Are you ready to run for the hills yet or do you want to try sticking it out for another year?"

"Is there chocolate involved? Something lacy?" She teased, glowing with mirth. It had been a good idea to take the short holiday so Marjorie could meet her grandson properly. She couldn't believe it had been a year since she had married her husband, the huge man next to her, and had her son, whose small personage she loved more every day.

( ...by the way. )

It had been odd going back to her own flat to grab some clothes, but Rose needed a change of scenery, at least for a little while, and she hadn't seen her trainee friend since they'd gone to that Quidditch match. With everything that had happened on Halloween, the aftermath and the ending of the season, she'd been busy.

But, they'd both agreed that they needed to make time for each other. While Rose surrounded herself with people, there were very few that she could call a good friend, and Euan was one of them.

He was one of the good ones.

( but the ability to deal with them )