Juniper yawned, rolling over in her bed. Correction, their bed. She blinked in the morning light. Her eyes were still bleary from sleep, but she could make out the lines of Teddy's face in front of her, slowly coming into focus. Juniper curled up next to him, black tangles splayed against the pillows.

He smelled like cigarettes, which meant he'd been up for a while. He always woke up early, Juniper had learned. Rory wouldn't let him smoke in the house, so he must've gone outside. She hoped he'd stopped at the store. They needed milk.

Teddy fingered the strap of her thin tank top, it was deathly hot in their flat. All. The. Time. Air conditioning was out of the question, none of them were making enough for that, and fans only did so much for the muggy London heat. "Have I told you how beautiful you are in the morning?"

"Not yet," Juniper said, pressing her cheek to his skin, sticky with sweat.

"Well, you are," he murmured, methodically running his fingers through her hair.

Juniper lifted a careless shoulder, "I know."

"And modest too," Teddy smirked. "Quite a catch, Medusa girl."

"Careful," Juniper warned, wrinkling her nose, "or I'll turn you to stone."

"Oooh," Teddy mocked, clutching his heart dramatically, "I'm scared."

Juniper sucked in her cheeks, eyes narrowing to slits. "Now you've done it," she growled.

"Uh oh."

"Uh oh is right, princess," Juniper pounced on him with a pillow, whacking him in the face. Teddy gladly accepted the challenge, tickling her mercilessly. Juniper put up a good fight, but in five seconds flat Teddy had her pinned down on the mattress by her wrists, completely at his mercy.

Teddy looked all too pleased with himself, especially because Juniper was wearing the plaid pajama shorts that had frequented his dreams since the first time she wore them

"Sorry, what was that you were saying?" Teddy cocked his head smugly.

"Shut up," Juniper muttered.

"Ah ah ah," Teddy grinned evilly, "I'm in charge now, trouble."

His gaze raked over her like hot coals, setting her body aflame. The quirk of his mouth was so dirty that Juniper' toes curled involuntarily. She hated that he could do this to her. That his hands around her wrists made her heartbeat speed up, and her mind go to some very not innocent places.

He dragged his teeth over his lower lip, and Juniper wanted to kill him and kiss him simultaneously. He knew exactly what he was doing to her. "What do you think happens next?" Teddy asked lowly, raising an eyebrow.

"I punch you in the face?" Juniper offered coyly, not ready to give in to his charms just yet.

"No."

Juniper smiled sweetly, "Kick you in the balls?"

Teddy rolled his eyes, lips twitching, "I hate you so much." He leaned forward slowly, their noses almost touching.

"I promise I hate you more," she breathed, just before his mouth closed over hers.

They'd fallen into a comfortable rhythm over the past month and a half. It had been an adjustment at first. Sure, Hogwarts had been almost like living with each other. But that had been school. This was real life. With jobs and bills to pay, groceries and dishes and laundry, and a whole host of other things that Juniper hadn't even thought about until now.

There had been quite a few mistakes along the way. For example, when Juniper had been boiling water, forgotten that the burner was on, and set fire to one of James's favorite dish cloths. The sofa Teddy had found at a yard sale that turned out to be infested with bed bugs. Rory nearly set fire to him for that one.

Now, however, besides the occasional blowout between Teddy and Rory over something stupid, like what was the right Drying Charm to use on linens, they had gotten the hang of things. Juniper woke up, usually next to Teddy, unless she was having a Rory sleepover. They did that sometimes, girls night. Leah often joined them.

She woke up, made coffee, sat at the table while James cooked breakfast for them all. Rory always grabbed a piece of toast on her way out to her internship. James and Teddy headed off to the joke shop a little later, and Juniper was training 24/7. Any spare moment she had, she stopped by the shop to help stock shelves, but mostly to kiss Teddy in the storeroom. If her and Rory had a similar break they'd grab lunch together at their new favorite diner, and sometimes Alex came along. The restaurant was near the hospital so it worked out.

Fridays they got absolutely shit faced at the club or bar of the week. Their local pub had started doing karaoke night, and James and Henry had gotten really into it.

Saturday was for partying, and more drinking. Rory loved being the hostess. So Leo, Henry, Leah, Alex, and Charlie, who had also chosen to work at the joke shop and crashed on their couch most days of the week, came over very weekend. Vic had already returned to France, and Juniper missed her dearly. She'd tried to invite Vivian, but her owl had returned to her, letter unopened.

Sunday was for recovering. In fact, Rory had dubbed it Hangover Day. They ate crappy, greasy takeaway, watched movies with the curtains shut and complained all day. Well...that was what Juniper and Teddy did. Rory and James, the psychopaths, drank kale smoothies and exercised.

Speaking of which...Rory was currently blending a medley of fruits and vegetables together, humming much too brightly for eight in the morning on a Monday. She hadn't gotten dressed yet, still in one of James's t-shirts that dropped down to her knees.

"Every morning I consider smashing that blender with a bat," Teddy pulled a shirt over his head, sticking his tongue out at Rory as he passed. Juniper busied herself with the coffee. "One day you're going to turn into a smoothie," he remarked, grabbing a jelly doughnut.

"At least I won't drop dead in my late twenties due to clogged arteries," Rory retorted, sipping her smoothie pointedly.

"At least I'll die pretty," Teddy fired back. "I can have an open casket. You'll be all wrinkled and shriveled like a crone." He lifted up the hem of his white tee, exposing his drool worthy abs, "Besides, I think my body's in pretty decent shape. I don't know, what do you think trouble?" Teddy glanced at her mischievously.

Juniper resisted the urge to fan herself, heat crawling up the back of her neck. She bit her lip, managing, "Er— yeah, I— yeah."

"For fuck's sake," Rory threw her hands up exasperatedly. "You are no help."

Juniper wasn't even listening anymore. Her gaze drifted down to his defined v line, toned muscles and—

"Oi!" Teddy snapped his fingers, grinning. "Eyes up here, Potter." He pulled his shirt back down, and Juniper pouted.

"Ugh," James gagged, waltzing through the door with grocery bags in hand. "Please. It is too early for that."

"Did you get milk?" Juniper rummaged through the bags, finally finding what she wanted.

Rory kissed her boyfriend on the cheek, "I'm going to get changed, baby. I left some smoothie for you on the counter."

"I should go get ready too," Juniper stretched, gulping down the rest of her coffee in one, quick swig. "Teams will be picking their players soon, and I don't want to get stuck on like— the Chudley Cannons or something."

"Don't let Uncle Ron hear you say that," James said wryly.

"Hey— Junie wait up," Teddy followed her into their room.

Juniper was busy changing into her Quidditch gear, "What's up, Lupin?"

"Junie— have you— have you talked to your mum?" he asked cautiously, knowing it was a point of contention.

Juniper exhaled, "Teddy—"

'It's just— it's been almost two months, Junie, you can't—"

"I can't what? Shut her out?" Juniper brushed him off angrily. She didn't like talking about this. Teddy knew that. "You didn't hear her, Teddy. You didn't— I don't want anything to do with her. She's probably on another mission again anyways."

"She's not," Teddy blurted before he could stop himself. "She's still here. And—"

"I'm sorry— exactly how do you know this?" Juniper interrupted, and Teddy knew he'd been caught.

"Look— Junie she really wants to talk to you," he explained, attempting to pacify her. He could tell that her temper was about to boil over.

"I don't care what she wants, Teddy!" Juniper burst out, head whipping around.

"Maybe you should hear her out—" he wheedled.

"No!" Juniper cut him off, eyes flashing. She'd reached her limit. She couldn't believe him. He was supposed to be on her side. Had he forgotten that Miranda had completely disapproved of their relationship when they'd told her? What was he doing speaking with her parents behind her back? "I don't want to talk about this anymore."

"Okay— I just— she'd leaving for a mission in a couple days, if you wanna see her— this could be your last chance for a while—"

"This conversation is over, Teddy," she stated firmly, jaw clenching. She slid on her trainers.

After a few moments of silence, Teddy spoke, "Are you mad at me?"

Juniper didn't turn around, "Yes."

"Do you still love me?"

She let out a large, resigned sigh, "Yes."

"Can I kiss you before you leave?"

"Also yes," Juniper finally turned to face him, lifting her chin in the air haughtily. "But I won't enjoy it."

Teddy bit back a laugh, tucking a stray hair behind her ear, "Okay, trouble." He kissed her gently on the lips, hands resting comfortably on her hips.

"I love you!" He called as she headed out the door.

"Okay!" Juniper called back, her typical response.

That was the nice thing about Teddy. He always kissed her goodbye, and said "I love you," whenever any of them went out the door. No matter what. That was their rule. Because above all else, they loved each other.

Practice was long and hard, and Junipers entire body was sore by the time it was over. And sweaty. Very very sweaty.

"You reek!" James exclaimed, pinching his nose. "Christ, Junie did you bathe in shit?"

"Shove off," Juniper shoved him, hopping up on the clerk counter. "They manured the pitch today, it's not my fault."

"You're scaring customers away, honestly," James coughed in disgust.

Juniper flipped him off, "Maybe you're scaring the customers away, ever thought of that?"

"With this smile?" James tossed his hair, preening like a swan. "Not likely."

"It's true," Teddy came up behind them, carrying a crate of love potions. "All he does is flash those pearly whites and girls line up." He set the crate down, mopping his brow. His eyes met Juniper's, "Hi."

"Hi." Why did he have to look so hot carrying things? Watching those damn arm muscles flex was like her personal kryptonite.

"Are you still mad at me?"

"Mmmm," Juniper shrugged, hopping off of the counter, "I haven't decided yet."

Teddy nodded, "Ah." He approached her carefully, mouth meeting hers. It was a sweet, quick kiss. "Does that help?"

"A little bit," Juniper tried not to blush. She smiled coyly, "Do it again to be sure."

"Okay, now you're both scaring customers off," James made a face as the pair continued to snog each other's faces off. "That's just revolting, get outta here." They ignored James.

Teddy drew back, "You smell horrible, trouble."

Juniper frowned, "That is not helping."

"Noted."

The next few weeks passed at warp speed. Juniper had never been more tired. Training was taking everything out of her, but she was so so close to achieving her goal since she was five years old. It was all worth it. All the mud and pulled muscles, and days where Teddy had to carry her up the stairs to their flat. Plus, Juniper was enjoying herself. Quidditch was what she loved most, and playing at this level was a dream come true.

Before she knew it, it was nearly September again. They had just sent off Leo and Henry with a massive party, and now they were all on cleanup duty.

"You know you're actually supposed to help, right Ness?" Juniper sent a spray of water out of tip of her wand at her sister. Rose and Vanessa had spent the night after the party, they had to do shopping for school anyways so it made sense.

"Mmph," Vanessa chucked a throw pillow towards her in retaliation, burying her head in Rose's shoulder. Both girls had had a bit too much to drink. "We are guests, I'll remind you."

"I don't care, I'll remind you," she yanked them out of their burrow in the couch. "Up. You have to go to Diagon Alley in an hour or so, and you cannot go looking like this." She indicated their disheveled appearances. Rosie's mop of strawberry blond curls was sticking on its end, and Vanessa's eyes were rimmed with streaked black mascara. Not to mention, they both stunk of Firewhiskey and tequila. "Mum and Dad will murder me if I send you back with a hangover."

Vanessa grumbled, waving her wand at the discarded shot glasses on the coffee table. She paused, "She misses you, you know? I mean, Dad does too, but—"

"Well, I have nothing against Dad," Juniper said briskly.

"Junie—"

Juniper summoned a broom, sweeping up the discarded trash and cigarette butts. Rory would freak if she saw those, thank god her and James were on bathroom duty. They traded off, and Juniper was infinitely glad int was their turn and not her and Teddy's because she was pretty sure that Charlie had puked in there last night. "Nessa, no."

"Fine, fine," she agreed.

Juniper was momentarily distracted by a rapping at the window. "Teddy can you get that? Hello? Anyone?" Juniper rolled her eyes, "Ugh, I have to do everything myself!"

She drew open the curtains, eliciting a high pitched whine from both Rose and Vanessa as the blinding sunlight flooded the flat. "Star?" she opened the window for her snowy owl, untying the letter strapped to her talon. Maybe it was a letter from Victoire. She hoped that was the case. She hadn't gotten one in a while.

Juniper flipped the letter over and her jaw dropped. "Oh my god," she breathed in disbelief. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" For there, winking up at her was the British and Irish QUidditch League seal. This was it. This was her future. She was holding her future in her hands.

"What?" Teddy alerted to the noise, ducked in the room, followed by Rory and James.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" Juniper jumped up and down excitedly, almost afraid to open it.

"What?"

Her hands were trembling with anticipation as she leaped onto the kitchen table. "Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up."

"Ew, Goldilocks are these your knickers?" Vanessa held them out on the end of her wand at arm's length.

"Shut up!" Juniper repeated, fumbling with the envelope.

"So pleasant," Rory commented with a wry smile.

Teddy chuckled, "Welcome to my world."

"Shhhhhhhhhhh!" Jumpier hissed, tearing the letter open. Her eyes scanned the page feverishly. She screamed with joy, "Yes! I made it! Starting seeker for the Falmouth Falcons baby!"

"Starting?" James's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious!" Juniper squealed, jumping off the table and flinging herself into Teddy's arms.

Teddy spun her around in the air, "I'm so proud of you."

Juniper clutched her head in shock, "I can't believe this. I can't believe this!" She was beaming so brightly, she looked like a lightbulb. She gasped, "Oh I should tell—" Juniper broke off, realizing her mistake. That was the one thing she couldn't do. Why did she want to? She shouldn't. But that had been the first thing to pop into her mind. She couldn't help it. It was her mum. The only one she had.

She shook it off quickly, regaining her stride, "This is amazing!"

If Teddy had noticed her slip up he didn't say so, hugging her tight, "You're a falcon!"

Juniper pumped her fist in the air with pride, "I'm a falcon!"

Later that night, as Juniper and Teddy were getting ready for bed, Juniper knew that Teddy had noticed her reaction earlier. She let her hair out of its ponytail, brushing through it with much difficulty.

As usual, Teddy tugged the brush away from her, "Let me."

They sat like that for a moment, in silence. Juniper closed her eyes, completely relaxed. Quietly, he began to braid her hair. He made short work of it, he really was good at braiding.

"Hey," he said, when he was finished. He put a comforting hand on her thigh, "So I saw your face this morning."

Of course he had. Teddy always could read her like a book. It helped that he'd known her for literally her entire life. She could never hide shit from him. "Nothing gets past you does it?"

The corners of Teddy's mouth lifted, "When it comes to you? Nope."

"It's really annoying, you know that?" she informed, side eyeing him.

Teddy only asked, "You okay?"

"I just— I realized that— I want her there. I wanted to tell her about it, and Dad, of course. The first thing I thought about was them cheering me on at my first match, going insane buying all kinds of Falcons merch, and making signs." Juniper flopped onto her back, facing the ceiling in a starfish position, "You were right, I need to—"

"Wait- wait, hold up," Teddy cupped a had around his ear, "what did you just say?"

"You were right, you massive prick," Juniper admitted, and she really hated to do it. "I need to hear her out. We're going to meet up tomorrow before she leaves. Talk."

Teddy smirked, "One more time for clarity. I was what again?"

Juniper swatted him across the cheek with a fluffy pillow, "The actual worst."

He tapped his chin in mock thought, "No, I don't think that was it..."

"Arsehole," Juniper crawled into his lap, glaring at him. "Kiss me."

"As you wish, love."

The next morning, Juniper rose early. She was a little nervous, to be honest, though she wasn't sure why. Maybe it was due to the fact that her last interaction with her mum had been less than pleasant. She shimmied into a pair of jeans and a simple tank top. Teddy's necklace hung securely below her collarbone. She hadn't taken it off once since he'd given it to her. She quite liked wearing his initial round her neck.

"Did you make me coffee, Ror?" Juniper poured herself a cup, burning her fingertips on the handle. It was fresh.

Rory kissed her on the cheek, dressed in her favorite power suit. Rory had never looked more at home than she did in her low bun, tiny gold hoop earrings, and black blazer and skirt combo. Her white dress shirt was ironed to perfection. Her standard work attire fit her like a glove. "Yes. Do you love me more than Lupin yet?"

"Always," Juniper winked, tying her hair up into a ponytail.

"Rude," Teddy grumbled, padding out of their room. "I give you sex."

Juniper shrugged, "She gives me coffee."

"Suck it, old man," Rory pinched Teddy's face.

"Morning," James greeted, "I do love to start my day with a good old fashioned Wood and Teddy squabble." Juniper's brother was more put together than usual, hair all slicked back and combed for once. He was wearing a tie. That was odd. She didn't think the joke shop required ties.

"Why so spiffy, mate?" Teddy asked, whistling low. "Making me look bad."

"Oh— I actually have an interview at the Ministry today," he explained, and Rory stiffened ever so slightly.

This was news to Juniper and Teddy. "For what?"

"An Auror position," James answered. Rory huffed, stalking over to the blender and turning it on on full speed. James winced, "It's a bit of a sore subject. She's worried I'm gonna get hurt. EVEN THOUGH I PROMISED TO BE SAFE SUNSHINE!" He shouted over the whirring blades.

Rory shut the blender off, hands on her hips, "You can't be safe as an Auror. That job's definition is danger. I don't want—"

"I'll be fine, Wood," James reassured her, thumbing the edge of her cheekbone. "It's just an interview, anyways."

"I hate that you're such a good person," Rory mumbled, wrapping her arms around him. "Why can't you be evil and not have a compulsive need to help people?"

"Sorry to disappoint you," James laughed lightly, pecking her on the forehead. "Now you ready to go?" Rory nodded, grabbing her wand.

"I should head out too actually," Juniper shouldered her bag, following Rory and James.

Teddy pouted, "Hang on, you're leaving me here all alone?"

"That means you have to do the dishes, Lupin!" Rory called as her and James disappeared out the door.

"Devil spawn," he muttered under his breath.

"Heard that!"

Juniper giggled, waving goodbye, "See you later, lonely boy."

"Bye, trouble." Teddy waved to her retreating back.

He looked at the piled plates in the sink with disgust, he hated doing dishes. Avoided it whenever possible. Rory knew that.

Teddy had always been rubbish at cleaning charms, especially Tergeo, which he was having to use quite frequently. Apparently those smoothies really liked to stick to cups.

Midway through scrubbing a lipstick stained wineglass, a Patronus appeared in the room.

That was odd. They didn't usually use Patronuses to communicate and it wasn't one he recognized. A hawk. Weird. Juniper's was a fox, Rory's was a sparrow, and James's was a golden retriever.

The hawk opened its beak and a message echoed through the flat, "There's been an accident, come to St. Mungo's immediately. It's Juniper, she—" The message stopped abruptly.

The wine glass crashed to the floor, shattered.

BOOM

CLIFFHANGER BABY

ranting————->

MUAH

-colleen