RP: Catching Up

[shh_padma]

Date: April 11, 2005
Character(s): Padma Patil, Terry Boot
Location: Five Alarm
Status: Private
Summary: Padma and Terry catch up, and Padma wonders if she can finally tell someone what she was really doing in New York.
Completion: Incomplete



Padma arrived early to the pub. She had been wandering around most of the morning and when she had found the pub

Comments

[shh_terry]

Terry arrived at the pub only a few minutes late for once, and hoped Padma hadn't been too early. Ben and Bob were vibrating beside him, eager to get to their favorite place.

"Do you 'fink Peevsie will be there?" Ben asked excitedly. "I haven't seen Peevesie in forever!"

"He'll be around," Terry assured him, settling Bob in his usual spot by the bushes in front of the pub, conjuring a cushion and a bowl of water for the dog.

"Don't forget the blanket," Ben reminded, and clapped as Terry conjured a blanket as well.

"Ready?' Terry asked, taking Ben by the hand and pushing open the door. "Do you remeber what Miss Padma looks like?"

"Yeah! She has long dark hair! And is really pretty." Ben looked around the pub, trying to see Daddy's friend through all the people.

Terry spotted her quickly, and made his way to her table, pointing her out to Ben as they got closer.

"Padma," he said warmly as they reached her. "It's so wonderful to see you again!"

[shh_padma]

Padma looked up as they entered and smiled, rising. "Terry." She hugged him tightly, surprised by the rush of emotion that came over her when she did. She hadn't realized how much she had missed him until now.

She swallowed back any signs of it though and pulled away, smiling. Then she looked down at Ben and grinned. "Hello, Ben. You've gotten so big." She grabbed the bag from the seat and kneeled down. "I brought you something from New York."

She pulled a stuffed dog out from the bag and held it out for him.

[shh_terry]

Terry returned her hug, tugging the ends of her hair lightly as he'd done at Hogwarts a thousand times.

"How are you?" he asked, drawing back. There was something there around her eyes that was concerning him, and he knew she'd tell him in her own time.

Ben grinned, and hugged her waist happily. "I know!" he said happily. "Soon I'm gonna be as tall as Daddy!" His eyes lit up as she mentioned a present and he clapped his hands. "Thank you!" he shouted, holding his hands out for his gift.

He gasped as she placed the stuffed dog in his hands.

"Look Daddy! It's a baby Bob! Thank you Miss Padma!" Ben clutched him close and looked around, grinning even wider when he saw Peeves throwing carrots at a customer. "Can I go show Peevesie?" he asked.

"Stay where I can see you, and no throwing food. That's impolite," Terry said, watching Ben scamper off towards Peeves.

He waited until Ben was out of ear shot before holding out Padma's chair and waiting for her to sit before following suit.

"So, really, how have you been?"

[shh_padma]

Padma watched the boy run off, grinning. he was such a sweet little thing. She had a fondness for children though. More than other people.

She looked over at Terry and sighed. She took her seat and waited for him to take his before beginning.

"It's hard to say, Terry. I'm not sure."

[shh_terry]

"Ben's the only good thing that came out of our marriage," Terry said. "I can't imagine my life without him. I was so angry and scared when Meg told me she was pregnant, but as soon as I felt him kick inside her, he was mine

[shh_padma]

"He truly is an amazing boy, Terry. He has a lot of you in him, so I wonder how you were at that age." She grinned, teasing him.

When he mentioned Parvati, she bcame sober again. She sighed and her shoulders slumped. "She didn't seem at all well when I saw her earlier this week, and she was drinking... In the afternoon. I'm seeing Lavender tomorrow to discuss what we should do about it. Hopefully I'll have a clearer picture then."

She smiled again, but it was a little more forced. Her sister was really weighing down on her. "If I ever find love, I'll let you know, Terry."

Ben was cute enough to bring her smile back more fully. "You know, I'm not entirely sure yet. What do you think I should get?" She had a feeling he would say fish and chips, but at least it wasn't something horrible like a hamburger.

[shh_terry]

Terry sighed, smiling slightly. "I was nothing like Ben as a child. My father would never have stood for it. In his eyes children were to be seen, not heard. And better than that, not seen at all."

He glanced at Ben, who was playing happily with his new dog and ignoring their conversation all together. "I spent a lot of time in my room until I went to Hogwarts. I think that's why I made friends so easily. I was starved for contact, looking back on it."

He shook his head. "I never want Ben to feel that way, like I did. Like he's not wanted, so I hope I'm doing my best with him. Megan's a great mum, too, and her family is amazing."

"I better be the first!" he said, shaking a finger at her.

Ben looked up as Miss Padma asked him what was good, and puffed his chest out importantly. "Miss 'Merta makes good fish and chips!" he exclaimed. "And beef stew. It has lotsa vegetebles! Those're good for you and help you grow tall! Daddy and Mummy says so!"

[shh_padma]

"You're a good father, Terry. You have nothing to worry about. You can already see that he's a wonderful and happy boy." She watched him play with the dog, glad she had picked something he liked. he really was a sweet boy.

"Then perhaps being locked up wasn't entirely for nothing," she teased. "After all, it's because of it that we became such good friends."

She then did her very best to keep a straight face at Ben's antics. "Well, I think I'll have to go with the fish and chips. I can't eat beef."