RP: It's Christmas time in the city.

[rar_katie]

Date: December 18, 1999.
Characters: Katie Bell, Marcus Flint.
Location: Diagon Alley
Status: Private
Summary: Katie and Hope go shopping for the orphans.
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[rar_marcus]

Marcus had been surprised when Mr. Best told him to take off work a few hours early today. He had been working late most days this month because of the holidays. When Mr. Best suggested he take off early to finish his Christmas shopping, Marcus didn’t admit he hadn’t even started and didn’t even have anyone to shop for this year. He just thought a break in the afternoon sounded good.

He was walking through Diagon Alley when he moved over to let a pram pass by on the crowded street. Those things could hurt if they rammed into your ankles. He was surprised when he glanced over and saw the pram didn’t even have a kid in it. He looked up and was even more confused when he saw who was pushing the pram. What the hell was Katie Bell doing with a baby? He hadn’t seen her around lately and hadn't heard from her since that last owl she sent him. He’d never answered but he hadn’t really known what to say. He still couldn’t understand why she didn’t hate him for his part in her losing Thomas but for some strange reason, she didn’t seem to blame

[rar_katie]

Katie turned at the sound of her name. Marcus had never answered her owl, never replied to her attempt to patch things up. Dean hadn't either, she reminded herself, but Marcus had never been one for wordiness.

"Hey, yourself," she said, smiling at him. It really was nice to see him again. "This is Hope. She's not mine, obviously." Marcus had taken his time to get to know every inch of her while they'd been together; he would have noticed - and likely taken issue - if she'd been preggers. "I've been volunteering at St. Jerome's orphanage. Someone left her on the step. Today's present buying day and looking after Hope day for me."

Hope fussed and Katie took a minute to get her settled.

"So, what are you doing today?" she asked, smiling at him again.

[rar_marcus]

Katie said the kid’s name was Hope. Must be a girl then. He stared blankly for a moment when Katie said she was helping at the orphanage. Then his attention turned to the baby as she explained it had been abandoned. He frowned, “That’s a shite thing to do.” He shook his head as he looked back up at Katie. “Not about you helping. I meant about that happening to the kid.” He had found his own mum dead when he was ten years old but at least he’d known who she was. At least she’d been there for him when he was a little kid.

Marcus took a step away when the baby started making sounds and was relieved when Katie seemed to know what to do to make it stop. When she asked what he doing, he shrugged. “Got off work early.” He nodded towards the pram full of presents. “So you’re doing your Christmas shopping?”

[rar_katie]

"Yeah, it really was," Katie said. "But she'll find a new home soon, with parents that love her." She felt a pang as she said this. Even though placement with a family was the best thing for Hope, she'd still miss her a lot.

"Oh, that's nice of Mr. Best," Katie said, "I'm glad things are working out for you there. How's the broom-making coming?" When he asked her about the shopping she laughed. "Shopping's not for me. I've got to shop for all the kids at the orphanage. It's hard; there's not much money going spare, but we like to make sure everyone gets one present. You doing any shopping?" Katie tried to think about who Marcus would be buying for and came up short. She doubted he'd get anything for his father. Maybe something for Adrian. Or if he had a new girlfriend.