Young & Beautiful | Roisin

Friday, June 17, 1921
Whitehall, London
1:00 PM
♡

Black alligator leather heels clicked softly on the sidewalk, carrying the woman quickly towards her destination. Muggle cars and pedestrians passed in a blur, unnoticed by honey-brown eyes that stared straight ahead. She'd just come from a meeting with her cousin Leo and his associates at the Ministry - James's request. Her stand-ins for her brother were fewer and far between these days, being too preoccupied with Benji and Kate, but now that summer had rolled in, she found herself with more time to help.

Names, dates, dialogue...all of it raced through her mind as she compartmentalized all of it, retaining what was important and discarding what wasn't.

She was on her way to Piccadilly to pick up a few dark chocolate bars she'd noticed Kathryn eyeing the last time they had shopped the windows. A little surprise treat for her daughter who never asked for anything, and maybe a tin of biscuits to send to Maddox for Evander -

"Julia!"

A familiar voice rang out, pulling the woman from her thoughts. She stopped in her tracks, glancing around before seeing a familiar figure waving from across the street. Bright red hair and a pretty smile. Roisin.

Julia smiled, looking quickly both ways before crossing the street to greet her with a brief kiss on each cheek. "Hello darling," she said, stepping back and tilting her head slightly. "Fancy running into you all the way out here. What are you doing in London?"

The two hadn't had much time to talk, considering all the events that had happened over the school term, and considering Julia was done with all her obligations for the day, she didn't see the harm in lingering. "I was just heading to Piccadilly. Want to join for tea?" She could send a few treats with Rose for Fiona as well.

“Julia!”

Rose waved at her friend who she spotted across the street. She hadn’t seen her since they all left Hogwarts, and since then Roisin had spent the majority of her time getting ready to move in with Gideon. The biggest project, as she herself was fairly easy when it came to moving, was making sure Fiona’s bedroom had everything the little girl could wish for. The metal plaque was already affixed to the outside of the door, and they were slowly filling her room with her extensive list of “must-haves”.

"Hello darling. Fancy running into you all the way out here. What are you doing in London?"

“Oh…” Rose said and held up the bag she was in possession of. “I was sent on a very serious errand for Fiona for her new bedroom. She had to have a canopy bed with pretty starry curtains… so, these are the ones she had picked out.”

No, Fiona was not getting everything she wanted – everything had to be approved by her and Gideon, of course. But he was easily swayed to what the girl wanted. Rose, on the other hand, would just laugh and shake her head.

“We move in next month. Her room is… almost perfect,” she said, lightening her voice to mimic Fiona when she said ‘almost perfect’ because her daughter seemed to love it.

"I was just heading to Piccadilly. Want to join for tea?"

“Oh my gosh, yes that would be lovely. I have to run to another shop for some decor after this.” Rose laughed, shaking her head.

Perfect, it was settled then. Julia smiled lightly, nodding Rose in the right direction as they walked side by side.

"Sounds like things are getting rather serious between you and Gideon," she said lightly. A new house, new curtains, new life. Good for Rose. She had struggled enough over the years, and Julia figured all these changes were probably good for her and a sign that better times were on the way. A happier mother could only be good for Fiona and Evander, and Julia was fully supportive.

There were plenty of changes on the horizon, and plenty that had already happened in her own life. Just this past weekend Benji had left for America with the Burkes and Rosie...a lump formed in her throat, but she pushed it away quickly, unwilling to allow herself to become emotional on a London sidewalk.

"How's Fiona handling it all?"

The two women chatted casually as they made their way through the neighborhoods, before finally arriving at Fortnum and Mason's. They climbed the old creaking wooden staircase, arriving on the third floor where they were quickly seated for tea.

"White please," Julia ordered, when the server came to inquire about the tea they'd like, and hurried off again just as quickly.

"So, how are you holding up? We haven't really talked about the letters the Ministry sent out. How will that affect things for you?" Perhaps lighter conversation would have been polite, but Julia was never one for small talk when there were deeper things to discuss. Not only was Gideon's freedom on the line - but so was Maddox's.

"Sounds like things are getting rather serious between you and Gideon."

Rose couldn’t help but to grin to herself at the thought of how serious things were. Things had been rough as a single mum, and she knew that it had been tougher for Fiona. Now that they were a family, with Gideon, she felt much less judged.

"How's Fiona handling it all?"

“Oh, Fiona is insanely excited, Julia, it’s hilarious,” she laughed at the thought. Her daughter lit up every time she saw Gideon. And he lit up too. And the whole thing was just so sweet.

They continued chatting on the walk to Fortnum and Mason’s. On the third floor, they finally sat down. Julia ordered white tea for the both of them and Rose smiled. That sounded delicious.

"So, how are you holding up? We haven't really talked about the letters the Ministry sent out. How will that affect things for you?"

The smile left Rose’s face and was replaced with a frown. Honestly, the situation was eating her alive. And everyone was basically waiting for Ruby’s trial to come first just so they’d know what to expect in the inquisition.

“I’m trying to stay positive about everything… but it’s hard. I mean… my brain keeps wanting to go to the ‘what ifs’ of it all… what if they’re both sent away? What would I do?” She sighed and shook her head. “I keep telling myself that’s not going to happen. Neither of them did anything wrong. Maddox did what he had to do to save those girls,” she said, her brow furrowed a bit.

“What if I finally get it all just for it to be taken away?” she asked, her eyes meeting Julia’s.

“Oh, Fiona is insanely excited, Julia, it’s hilarious.”

It warmed her heart, genuinely. Fiona was a sweet girl, and Julia wouldn't kid herself by pretending that she hadn't been a little concerned about the adjustments that she would have to make for this new relationship. But Roisin was her mother, and she knew what was best for the girl - something Julia certainly wouldn't question.

And Rose...seemed happy. Which was something that she hadn't seen her friend be in a very long time. The way she beamed and smiled talking about Gideon and the plans they were making - it all pointed to being something that was good for Rose, and Fiona. How could anyone not be happy for them?

“I’m trying to stay positive about everything… but it’s hard. I mean… my brain keeps wanting to go to the ‘what ifs’ of it all… what if they’re both sent away? What would I do? I keep telling myself that’s not going to happen. Neither of them did anything wrong. Maddox did what he had to do to save those girls.”

"He did," Julia agreed firmly. What Maddox had done had saved Ruth's life, and likely everyone else's up there as well. By all accounts, Thayer had behaved like a maniac and had been willing to take everyone in that tower down with him if he wasn't winning at his depraved game. Using children as collateral was the lowest thing a human could do, and Thayer used three of them. If Julia knew anything about Maddox - and she knew quite a lot - it was how seriously he took his role as a father, and by extension as a guardian of the children under his watch.

He was a good man, regardless if he were best friend or not.

“What if I finally get it all just for it to be taken away?”

"Hey," Julia said softly, reaching across the table for Rose's hand and gave it a tight squeeze as their eyes met. "Have faith. It seems to me that the Minister is taking the most heat for what happened up there. The conspiracy and treason charges?" She sighed, letting her friend's hand go and sat back straight in her chair. "Maddox and Gideon took the lead to go up there and rescue those kids without question, not even knowing what they were walking into. The Wizengamot has to see that. James assures me that..." she trailed off for a moment, not sure if she should actually reveal what her brother had said, but decided keeping it vague would be alright.

"James assures me that they'll all have fair trials. Etain's on the body, as is James and Roufas and Bertram Nordstrom. Bertram is Everleigh's grandfather. I think reason will prevail."

She hoped so anyway. She didn't know what she would do if Maddox was convicted. He was her sounding board, her confidant and the person she turned to when she needed help with Kathryn. What would become of Morgan? Julia would take her in a heartbeat without question - but surely Maddox's family would want her. What about Evander? Would Rose take him? Would Maddox want Julia to?

The woman was realizing she had as many questions as Rose did.

"And...if the absolute worst happens," Julia said softly as the server set down their cups and a pot of tea, "You bring Fiona and come stay with my family for awhile." She smiled, "Kate would be glad for some company her age I'm sure."