Chapter forty Two- September

"Stop biting your nails" Tom sighed bringing my hand away from my mouth.

We were on the front porch of his house, about to knock on the door. And like any normal sane person would act in a situation like this I was nervous. What if they didn't like me? I mean sure James would be there, and that in its self is sort of a comfort, but there are still four people I have yet to meet, and still need to impress.

"Can't I just wait in the car?" I smiled sweetly up at him.

He scoffed "No" I sighed "If I can deal with your gun shooting father, you can deal with my family I promise, James is the worse too, if that helps at all"

I laughed "it does a little bit"

"Were just going to be here for a couple of hours" He kissed the top of my head "They are going to love you, so stop fidgeting

"Ok" I breathed. And the door opened, without either of us knocking.

There stood a women, with a cherish smile on her face and dirty blonde hair that rested on her shoulders, she had the same smile as Tom, which I quickly recognized. "I thought I was hearing noises" she spoke

"Hi mum" Tom said giving his mum a quick hug, as they broke apart Tom smiled brightly and gestured towards me. "Mum I would like you to meet Cassie"

His mum looked like she was about to cry as she pulled me into a hug. "Oh I have been waiting to meet you for so long, and you're so pretty" she said once she released me. I just sort of stood there, shocked that she was so open, maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Thank you Mrs. Felton" I smiled

She rolled her eyes "Oh please, call me Julia"

"Okay" I said still a little shakily.

"Come in come in" She ushered us into the foyer. It was a very nicely sized house, furnished with antiques all about.

"James and Chris are in the kitchen, your father will be home soon" She said closing the door behind us.

"What about Walt?" Tom asked curiously.

"He couldn't make it, you know how busy he is these days" She sighed.

"Yeah almost as busy as me" Tom said

I couldn't exactly tell if Tom was heartbroken that his eldest brother wasn't coming, or if it didn't matter to him at all, he just dragged me into the kitchen, his mother following behind us.

James was leaning on the counter, with who I can only assume as Chris. It is funny how Tom and Chris look so much alike, their features especially, of course Chris looked a little older than Tom, because well he was.

"Tom" He said standing up straighter.

They embraced in one of those weird guy hugs.

"Chris this is Cassie" Tom said once they pulled apart.

"Hi" I spoke smiling a little.

"Hello" he said kindly.

James elbowed him in the ribs "Told you she was pretty"

I blushed.

"Yes very pretty" Chris agreed.

Tom coughed at them.

"Why don't you boys go and play outside?" Julia said ushering them out of the kitchen and out the backdoor.

"Mum we are not little kids anymore" James whined half way out the door.

"You sure do act like one" His mother scolded.

He glared and walked outside with the rest in tow.

Once the door was closed she turned back to me and walked, so that she was standing over the stove cooking something.

"Can I help you with anything?" I asked trying to be polite, I wasn't a very good cook, but I could attempt.

"If it's not too much trouble you could chop those carrots" she said gesturing towards the orange vegetable on the cutting plate, with a chopping knife.

"It is no trouble at all" I picked up the knife and started chopping the carrots into thin slices.

"So Cassie how old are you?" she asked casually

"I'm about to turn twenty two" I replied

"Really when is your birthday?" She asked

"November seventeenth"

"You're almost exactly a year apart" she smiled

I laughed a little "yeah almost"

"How did you and Tom meet?"

"Oh um a rollercoaster"

"A rollercoaster?" she asked confused

"Yes Dan, Rupert, and Tom were riding this ride that my two friends and I got into and well...I noticed them, and Tom and I just became friends"

"The way kids meet these days I swear" she said with a hint of laughter.

"How did you and your husband meet?" I asked, hoping I wasn't intruding or anything.

"We were college sweet hearts" she said dreamily.

"Really? What were you studying?" I asked

"Oh I was studying art, but I had to stop because I got...um pregnant with Walter"

"Oh, I see" I smiled

"Are you in college?" she asked

"Oh no, I thought about going, but my great uncle owns a veterinarian hospital, sort of thing, and I worked there"

"You still work there?" she asked

I gulped "No I don't"

"Why not?"

"Well...since Tom and I lived so apart, I moved closer and quit my job" I didn't really want to say that I was living with Tom, because I didn't know how much she knew.

She laughed "I know about your living arrangements"

"Oh...I wasn't sure" I laughed, sort of embarrassed.

A cracking noise hit the window.

"Those boys" She grinded her teeth together, annoyed.

She took five long strides over to the back door and opened it shouting "If you boys break one more window I am going to make you pay for it!" She threatened.

She slammed the door shut. "It's just like when they were kids"

I smiled.

"Do you have any siblings?" she asked

"Yeah I have two brothers"

"Younger?" she asked

"One is and one is older"

"You are lucky then, I had two younger brothers very annoying" she rolled her eyes.

I laughed "Well my younger brother is only a year younger than me, so he was never too annoying."

She nodded in acknowledgement. "What about your parents?"

"Oh my mother died when I was ten, and my father and I don't have the best relationship"

"I understand" She smiled warmly at me, which I returned.

I hadn't had a conversation with a mother in a long time, and it was very comforting. It gave me this warmness that spread throughout my body, making me smile.

The food was delicious, amazingly so. Though I was being interrogated again, except this time it was by his father.

He sat at the head of the table, smiling in a friendly way. He had many of Tom's features or rather Tom had many of his.

"So tell us about your family?" He asked me, going into more depth questions.

I took a deep breath "Well I have a father and two brothers" I said as casually as ever.

"What about your mother?" He asked questioningly.

"She died when I was ten" I answered

"How?" he asked curiosity burning in his eyes.

"Dad!" Tom objected at the same time that his mother said "Andrew you don't ask questions like that!"

"Its fine" I smiled politely for now the two brothers were leaning into see what I would say.

"My mum and I were driving home, and is was storming when the brakes broke and we" I sighed "drove off a cliff"

"Oh that is horrible" His mother gasped sympathy gleaming in her eyes.

I smiled warily "It happened a long time ago"

And just like that the conversation pulled away from me, for which I was very grateful.

Dinner faded into desert, which was apple pie, and did I mention that Julia was a fantastic cook? No wonder Tom was a great cook; he must get it from her.

I wasn't really paying much attention to the conversation that was drifting between, Tom, Chris, and their father. It was something to do with business and it bored me a little. I picked at the remain of the pie as they continued their discussion.

"Well that's not the problem" Chris said towards Tom.

"Then what is?" Tom asked curiously.

"Here," Mr. Felton spoke, brushing his chair back and standing up. "I have papers I want you to see anyway Tom, let's continue this in the den"

Chris nodded standing up as well, along with Tom, who gave me a small smile, following them out of the dining room.

Mrs. Felton was about to stand up and clear the table, but I beat her to it. "Let me"

"Cassie you're a guest" she objected.

"I insist" I smiled already half way to the kitchen.

In the end James and I ended up washing dishes together, while Mrs. Felton read in the living room.

...James laughed "I'm surprised you're still going out with him"

"It's not like he is really gay" I argued, splashing him with some of the suds.

He looked appalled, and splashed some back.

I laughed "I actually wanted to ask you a favor"

"Anything for you princess" He smiled flirtatiously; draining the sink and grabbing us some wash cloths.

"Well...could you fix Demon? For Tom's birthday, I'll pay you extra to get it fixed faster-"

"Why should I?" He asked, grinning with amusement.

"Because he is your brother? Come on please" I begged batting my eye lashes.

"Cassie" he sighed "Even if I wanted to, his birthday is in three days, and I would have to order parts that might not even get here in time and-"

"Come on James I'll pay extra for shipping! Please" I said pouting.

"I'm almost positive Tom wouldn't want you paying that kind of money, for his car" he shook his head from side to side disapprovingly.

"I don't care. I know he loves that car, sure it is his fault for wreaking it, but I want to give him the best present in the world and this is basically all I could think of...I know that it might not be possible, but I believe that you can make it work..." I sighed "I can't do this without you James"

He looked me up and down, and then thought of it for a moment before he spoke "He really doesn't deserve you"

I smiled and through my arms around his neck hugging him. "Thank you" I said

He smiled, actually a truthful smile, down at me "Don't thank me yet"

"Thank you for what?" Tom asked walking into the kitchen.

I smiled "Nothing"

He glared suspiciously at me as his parents came into the room. His father smacked him lightly on the back of the head with one hand, for his other was wrapped around his wife. "You don't glare at a lady"

I laughed as Tom rolled his eyes, and fixed his hair "Well its getting kind of late, we should probably get going" He said looking at his watch.

His mother frowned with disappointment. "It's only nine thirty" She almost whined.

"It's a four hour drive, mum" Tom explained

"Why don't you just stay here tonight?" She suggested brightening up, once again.

I gulped at the horror of the mere thought...I don't think I will ever understand how Tom lasted a weekend with my family.

"I'm sorry, but we have got plans tomorrow morning" He said softly letting her down easily.

"Well maybe some other time then" she sighed "And you have to visit more, I hate hearing about what is going on in your life through a television" She hugged him. I smiled, there was nothing like a mother's love for her children.

"Give me your phone" James whispered in my ear. I obeyed slipping my phone from my back pocket into his waiting hand.

He pressed the buttons quickly and handed it back to me without a word.

I eyed him weirdly, he just rolled his eyes. I quickly shrugged it off, as I was crushed into a hug by his mother.

I hugged her back hesitantly "You have to come and visit too Cassie"

I smiled "I will"

"Good" she released me.

After the rest of the goodbyes Tom and I headed out to my car.

"They really like you. Told you there was nothing to worry about" He winked.

"I like your family, they are very nice..." I said politely "So I know Saturday is your actual birthday but I thought that Friday-"

"No" He cut me off abruptly.

"What? Why?" I asked astonished

"No party" he said again very abruptly.

"Why, what is wrong with a party?"

"Too social" he said jaw tight.

"How about a small party?" I asked

"No, how about it's just us?" he asked, squeezing our intertwined hands.

I sighed giving up, it was his birthday after all "Emma is not going to be happy"

He scoffed "She has been trying to throw me a party for the past two years"

"Why don't you want a party?" I asked truly curious now.

"I like my birthdays to be special, for me a party isn't special" He shrugged.

I smiled softly, closing my eyes peacefully as he drove into the night.

The annoying beeping echoed throughout the house, as I sat on the kitchen floor, flour spewed out all over the marble. Egg, milk, flour, icing, and who knows what else was all over me. Smoke was rising from the stove setting off the smoke detectors, which brings me back to the annoying beeping, that was mocking me.

Thunderous footsteps ran quickly down the steps and into the kitchen entrance. He was still in boxers and a white t-shirt as he leaned up against the door way trying to hold in a laugh.

I flung my hands up in defeat and pouted "Happy Birthday"

"What on earth are you trying to do?" Tom laughed, crossing his arms over his chest.

I felt my way up to the counter, praying for support. And when I was stable I blew the hair out of my eyes, causing power to fog the air.

"I was trying to make a cake" I whispered sheepishly. I woke up early so that I could surprise him, but I am the worst cook in the entire world.

"But you decided to burn the house down instead?" He questioned smiling stupidly.

"It wasn't my intention" I said grabbing a chair and pulling it up to the smoke detector, which was still shouting that I had failed. I fanned it down and pressed the reset button so that it stopped the dreadful screaming.

I was climbing down when my toes slipped and I fell, but did not feel the impact on the floor. Instead two strong warm arms caught me, bridal style.

Smiling up to him I said, "Happy Birthday" more cheerfully.

He placed me down and whipped icing off the tip of my nose with his index finger and licked it. "Mmmmm thank you, but maybe you should leave the cooking to me" he suggested about to start cleaning up. I swatted his hand away.

"The birthday boy doesn't help with the cleaning"

"Cassie this is a mess-" He started but I cut him off shooing him away.

"I don't care, it's my mess. Go get dressed and watch TV or something, they are coming at twelve"

He was half way out the kitchen when he turned on his heel "When who is coming?" He glared

I looked up from the stove I began to scrub "Oh don't give me that look. Emma, Rupert, Alec, Lucas, Matt, Nathan, and Melissa, Rose might come"

"I thought I said no party?" He frowned

"Oh come on it is not a party, just your friends hanging out"

He rolled his eyes and left the room.

It took me an hour and a half to make the kitchen was as close to spotless as possible, with only half an hour to spare. I jogged up the stairs to find Tom laying down on the bed, with a still sleeping Timber, flipping through the channels on his normal sized television.

I walked into the closet and grabbed the cloths I decided to wear and headed into the bathroom, and began taking off my cloths starting the water.

I was just in my underwear when Tom said, "Your phone is ringing...do you want me to answer it?"

I nearly ran into the room, to find that he was leaning over my phone that was placed on the desk, I was deathly afraid that it was James who was calling and would give away the surprise.

"Don't answer it!" I told him.

He turned and his eyes went wide. He whistled "Happy birthday to me"

I blushed, as he walked towards me and wrapped his arms loosely around my waist. He leaned in till we were inches apart. The scent of peppermint intoxicated me as his lips pressed gently into mine, and then pressed harder, gripping me tighter.

When he let me breathe I looked at the clock and shrieked, quickly running back into the bathroom and jumped into the shower.

I could hear Tom laughing. "That was a very pretty sight"

His voice was very close and clearer than it should be...too close. I peeked out of the curtain and shrieked "You're not supposed to be in here!"

He was leaning on the counter of the sink smirking "Calm down I'm just talking to you." Then he frowned "I can't see anything"

I sighed and started washing my hair; it was no use wasting so much time trying to convince him. "What a disappointment this must be for you"

"Yeah it really is" He muttered.

I laughed as I washed until all traces of flour and other ingredients were gone. I turned off the water and was about to step out, but I knew better than that.

"Are you still there?" I asked slumping.

No noise came from behind the curtain. I peeked out just in case, and yes, there he was still leaning on the counter with a playful gleam in his eyes.

"Will you at least make yourself useful and hand me the towel?"

He thought about it, as he walked over to the nice white towel hanging at least three feet away from the shower, and pointed to it. "This towel?"

I sighed "yes"

He took it off the hinge and held it in front of me. As I grasped for it he pulled it back, making me catch thin air.

"Let's make Cassie dance" He dangled the towel in front of my eyes. I reached out for it again, but he pulled back.

"Tom this isn't nice" I pouted, growing tired of his game.

"It's my birthday I don't have to be nice" He said standing proudly.

The dumb idiot left the towel within my reach, and I snatched it, quickly vanishing behind the curtain again.

"Hey that's not fair!" he objected.

When the towel was securely wrapped around me I stepped out, and stuck my tongue out at him.

He on the other hand grabbed a handful of the towel, and with one tug I would be exposed.

"You wouldn't" I glared

He raised an eye brow smirking "wouldn't I?"

"Fine but you won't get your birthday presents, and trust me you want them" I said continuing to glare at him while trying to grip the towel closer to me.

His hand retracted, with a frown. "You didn't have to get me anything"

I rolled my eyes "It's your birthday"

He sighed "Fine let me have it" he opened out his hand

"One I'm not dressed, two it's not here yet" I said holding up my fingers.

"Not here yet? What did you get me?!" He asked curiously as I shoved him out of the bathroom so I could change.

I changed into jeans and a t-shirt. I brushed my wet hair hoping that it would dry quickly, because now I only have...five minutes before they are suppose to be here.

I opened the door to find Tom not in the room; he must have gone down stairs.

I grabbed my phone, and sure enough it was James who was calling me. I pressed re dial and held the phone up to my ear as I walked to Dan's room, brushing through my still wet hair with my fingers.

"Cassie?" James's voice asked

"Yeah, please tell me that it's finished" I pleaded...it was very close to not being presentable.

"Well...I need a couple more hours...I'll text you before I come over okay?" He replied

I sighed, it was better than not having it at all. "Yeah that's fine, see you later"

"Bye" he replied as I hung up.

I opened Dan's door and peeked inside. He was still asleep in flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt, his hair an extreme mess.

"Hey" I said loudly hoping that he would wake up.

He didn't.