It was no particular Thursday evening when Aurelia stepped foot into The Red Hawk. She had nowhere to be and nothing to do; Hugh was busy with meetings all day, so she wasn't expecting to see him until he came home for bed later that evening.

The red head, in a casual pair of jeans and some ivory sweater she'd found hanging in the back of her closet, stepped into the establishment where she was cheerfully greeted. Her hostess was something of a familiar face, one she'd seen now and again as she visited a few times prior to her shift at St. Mungo.

Now that she was working with Hugh's group, she had been slacking at visiting the establishment for dinner. As she didn't have any other diner plans - Chase was out of town and Mildred was on some adventure or another - Aurelia found herself hoping Damian was in.

"Is Damian in? I was hoping to catch him if he's around.." Aurelia gave a smile and waiting for a reply.

The hostess grinned at the customer that she had seen on a few occasions. "It'll just be a moment." Leaning towards Damian's pet, Ed, she gave a curt nod as he blinked his eyes at her before gliding silently towards the kitchens where his master was currently.

Damian appeared a moment later in his food splattered chef's garb with Ed perched on his shoulder. When he saw the familiar red-head, Damian's face split into an even bigger grin then before as he spread his arms out for a hug, Ed leaving his shoulder and returning to his post. "Auri! What do I owe this pleasure too, hmmm?" His blue eyes twinkled mischieviously, a joking tone in his voice. "Don't tell me Hugh's been keeping you all to himself. Your cooking can't be that good yet."

Aurelia gave a big grin at Damian, making her way across to him. "Oh you know, just in the neighborhood." She laughed and attempted a one armed hug, trying not to get whatever was on his smock on her sweater.

The red head took a step back. "He's had me running all over the world. But I had to stop by for some real food, you know that." She gave him a wink and another small laugh.

How cute he looked in his food-stained smock. Sometimes she wished she could give it all up and just cook with him. Not that she was ever really good at it, but maybe with enough practice she could get the job done.

"I'm homeless tonight; Hugh is out of town until late this evening, and Chase is off on some adventure or another. As is aunt Mildy. She said she stopped by last week, said I had to come down because you had some new spectacular dish that I just had to try."

Mildred had always been quite fond of Damian. And in those dark days in Aurelia's life when there'd been no hope of Hugh returning to her, Mildred often entertained the idea of trying to match Damian with her niece. What a batty old woman; to think that such a man as him would have her. She didn't think she was anyone Damian would ever 'like like'. What a silly old woman.

Aurelia was certainly glad she had a dark tank top under the sweater. "I've come for company, and food, of course. No one cooks like you Damian, you know that."

Damian let out a laugh that only filled the noise in the gastropub as he let go of Aurelia. "Well if you asked, I could just sent things for you to eat. But suppose that would explain why ol' Hugh hasn't been down here."

Crossing his arms over his chest, he noted that he had gotten food on his friend. Almost every piece of clothing that he owned had gotten food on it at one point or another; he had almost gotten used to the fact that other people went around with food on their clothing on a day to day basis as well. He smiled apologetically at it giving a quick wave of his wand that he had looped through his belt before tucking it away.

"Ah yes. That woman never ceases to put a smile on my face; she has such a way with words too. That dish was only a simple soup, nothing that extravagant." Damian replied remembering when Mildred popped by out of the blue. He had taken a shine to the woman right away when he had met her and was glad that Aurelia had her for company. He remembered her always trying to match he and Aurelia up when they were younger -but he had always graciously sidled out of it. Hugh and Aurelia always seemed like the proper couple to him.

Tilting his head to the side he smiled again at his schoolmate. "Well, with such a bold statement like that, I don't have much room for failure, do I?" Bowing ever so slightly and extending a hand into the dining area of the Red Hawk, Damian winked. "Your table awaits you, madam."

He looked so at peace with his food-stained garb. Much like she was sure she looked in her smock at times. Still, she knew Damian to clean up rather well on an occasion or two. To her, Damian was such a sweet fellow; she had no idea why he was so good to her, but she would never complain.

"I think Mildred just has a sweet-tooth for you, no pun intended." She gave him a wink and another smile.

The red head followed along; though she hoped that she would actually get to help out a little in the kitchen tonight, as she liked to stay busy. "Yes yes, I follow, you lead." She took up a seat and took a breath. It smelled divine, whatever was in the air. There was already a menu on the table too.

Aurelia cracked open the menu, though she already had an idea as to what she'd order; it was a regular dish for her. Chicken and broccoli alfrado with the garlic bread and a small house salad - hold the cucumber and tomatoes - with a lemonade (some nights spiked with a shot or two of vodka).

"What do you recommend?" She jested, closing the menu again.

"Well you tell your aunt that she's welcome anytime," Damian replied with an easy laugh. "I think that at this rate, I'll have to dedicate a special dessert in her name. It'll be a surprise the next time she pops by."

Aurelia had been to the Red Hawk enough times that Damian had managed to memorize what she liked in addition to any of his regular's orders. But, being ever the sport, Damian played along, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Well...depends what you're in the mood for. Could I tempt you in a slow-braised beef shin with risotto and gremolata with a garden salad on the side? It comes with any sort of dessert you like; strawberry vanilla cake with a dribble of dark choclate on the top. Unless of course a simple creme brulee suits your taste."

He grinned at her, a twinkle in his blue eyes. He knew his friend all too well. "And if you'd like, you could come take a sneak peek into the kitchens. Might want to watch yourself though - we've got a newbie in there. Wouldn't want Hugh after me if something happened to you."

"She'll be tickled, for certain!" Aurelia eyed the desert menu and gave it a once over. "Better quit being too sweet, or she'll be knocking down your door trying to be your mistress." She teased, getting up from her seat at the mention of joining him in the kitchen. What a sweetheart.

He knew she was no good at cooking but still let her shamble back there with him and the crew. She made a mental note to avoid the new hire - who was likely to be the messiest of the bunch.

"You know what my heart's really after.." Of all the things he'd suggested, her favorite had been left out. He knew of course, and she knew he was only playing along.

Aurelia excitedly followed Damian back to the kitchen, where the normal clatter was at a lull; it was still a little early for the dinner rush, so there weren't so many pots and pans banging around.

That's when she spotted them.

The red head did a little dance around, telling this person and that person 'hello' and 'good afternoon' as she ever so sneakily approached the already open jar of pickles on the counter. Once she'd obtained one, her dance around the kitchen brought her back to Damian and his questioning eyes.

"Hmm?" She questioned between bites. "They looked so good!"

"A mistress huh..." He paused jokingly, "As much as I'm flattered, that can't really work if I'm not seeing anyone you know." Damian couldn't help but smile as Aurelia bustled into the kitchen and the scent of food really hit home as he entered the room.

His co-workers were bustling around and they all looked up breifly from their work to smile in acknowledgement before turning back to their work, although a few did exchange a hello or two with Aurelia. He was about to go after Aurelia who had danced off into further parts of the kitchen, no doubt seeing what everyone was preparing when he noticed the poor newbie who was fumbling around with the stove. Slapping him lightly on the back, he let out a sigh. "Come on Brown...High temperature on. You know that the Mister Waters enjoys his steak well done." As the new recruit stuttered back a reply, Aurelia had just rounded about to where Damian was and he blinked a few times.

"Yes I realize that but...pickles, Auri? What's the sudden interest?" A questioning look filled his eyes and he tilted his head to the side, a sort of smile on his face as he shook his head and moved to grab a pan to cook her meal in. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

Aurelia tucked herself behind the table where Damian had set out a few things to make her that delectable dinner dish. She could hardly contain the joy when the idea of the finished product was in mind. Oh the broccoli, the creamy alfredo.. It would be so good all jumbled up in her tummy. Food, food, food. It seemed to be all the red head could think about lately..

Oh.. So he had noticed the odd taste of hers.. It was somewhat of a disadvantage to hiding anything. There were ways, of course, to hide such things. But was it really that unheard of. Besides, she was almost a married woman - or would be, whenever she and Hugh managed to get everything planned out. Besides, who better to be blessed in such a way.

"There's something I'm not telling anyone." She said in a breath. There. That was it. She didn't exactly admit it, but she hadn't denied it either. It wasn't fair to tell him first. Not that she believed anyone she'd seen in the past week didn't already know. Alas, she hadn't announced anything. At least not yet. She was actually on her way to the hospital at some point tonight for the final prognosis, though she was absolutely certain on the outcome.

Aurelia lowered her glance to the table of assorted ingredients. "Oh Damian. I just.. I don't know.."

Damian looked at Auri out of the corner of his eye as he turned the oven on to heat up and setting a pot of water before moving to the sink to wash his hands. He supposed he had a hunch about what was happening to his friend - Vera had after gone through this a year ago and now had her own bundle of joy to show for it. The craving about pickles made him still laugh a bit though partly because it didn't make sense to him.

He thought about saying something, but thought better and just shut his mouth as he moved to push a fresh platter of garlic bread into the oven. "You know what, Auri, I think the best thing to do is to live in the moment." He pushed a chopping board in her direction and ruffled her hair. "The right time will come along, yeah? In the mean time, you want to chop the broccoli? It'll give you something to do."

Aurelia half smiled, though she moreso wanted to just sigh and give into the idea of crying. Great Merlin she didn't like these things; these impulses to have such radical reactions to the tiniest things. The red head was just so confused. And yet, Damian had given fair advice. Living in the moment was certainly what she did best.

"I don't know how to tell him." She blurted out at once. Aurelia cracked a toothy grin and reached out for the broccoli. There was no messing this part up at least; it was simple enough to chop and though it didn't really deflect her attention to the non-subject at hand, it was something of a catharsis. "I suspect he knows... They all do. I'm engaged now, have I told you?"

She couldn't help but burst out into a bit of laughter. Oh dear. It was a lot to process. Aurelia held out her hand a moment, though she retracted it back to the efforts of chopping a moment later. It wasn't like her to really show anything off.

These had been things she dreamed some years ago, but until recently had only been a dream. Now they were real.. It was a little scary.

With the water beginning to boil, Damian grabbed a handful of fettucini pasta and popping it into the pot with a flourish, adding a dash of spices to add flavour to the noodles.

Damian blinked a bit at the rock on Aurelia's finger - leave it to Hugh to spoil his love. "Augh, that Hugh is going to show all the blokes in Britain up, isn't he?" he asked with a laugh, pretending to joke about being blinded by the light shining off her ring. Moving to the large fridge, Damian grabbed four chicken breasts and placed them each in the frying pan, each giving off a satisfying sizzle.

He grinned at her reaction to it though; he had hated seeing Aurelia in such a funk when Hugh had disappeared from her life. "Yeah, I heard from Chase and Hugh who both scribbled me an owl. Bit sad you didn't get around to telling me until now. But I'm glad for you two, and I might I add it's about time for Merlin's sake. Like I said though, you'll find a way." Damian grabbed his wand from his apron pocket and made a lazy flicking motion which made the chicken breasts flip obediently.

"You worry anymore, the little one's going to have wrinkle lines in-between its forehead before it's even born."

Her reaction to Damian's appraisal of the ring was met with a small blush of Aurelia's cheeks. Not due to any sort of embarrassment though; but an understanding that she had never really been all that fond of showing herself off. Try as her aunt may, the younger of the red head's was just too modest for her own well-being since her days at Hogwarts.

In response to his mention of her not telling him sooner, she eyed the chicken in the pan and drew in a small breath. "Really though, I think the owl's are quite informal. I'd much rather be here in person to tell you.." She really hoped he hadn't taken offense to it; she had tried to stop down sooner, but it had been hard with her schedule and the one night he was simply too busy to be seen. Still, she had felt a little bad for waiting.

Aurelia looked up and cracked another toothy grin. She thought it silly to think of a baby with worry wrinkles. She didn't have many, and neither did Hugh really, so it would be silly to assume that any kid of theirs would suffer from it. Oh, to think of children though.

"Do you think it'll have my hair? I almost hope it doesn't.. Being red isn't bad if you're a girl, but as a boy I suppose it really wouldn't matter.. Still, I hope it has his eyes.. Mine are pretty nice too, but his are nicer.. My hair and his eyes. Well, so long as it's healthy and doesn't kill me on its way out, I'd be happy either way.."

It was the first time she'd ever made reference to her mother's issues with child birthing. It was the one thing that absolutely terrified the red head. How could she not worry when her own mother had lost her life giving birth to her. She certainly didn't want to end up in the same predicament.

"Broccoli is finished." The red head mentioned quite sporatically. Disposing of the left over stalks, Aurelia handed the bowl of green vegitables over to Damian. She mustered up a small, but meager smile.

"It just scares me.. Not death really.. But leaving Hugh all alone.. I know I couldn't bare to be alone myself.. Really though, it's such a mix of emotions.. I know why women go so crazy now.. All these hopes and fears.. It's quite exhausting.." Aurelia managed herself into a nearby stool. They were few and far between in the kitchen, but everyone else seemed rather in tune with their work.

"Hey now, I was joking, yeah?" Damian said with a frown looking up from his inspection of how the chicken breasts were cooking. "I know how busy you people are - what with Hugh and Chase in the Ministry and you with St. Mungo's and now a little one on the way. Don't worry about it."

With another lazy flick of his wand, another sizeable pan came floating from the cupboards and landed on the element beside the others and with a swirl, a stream of creamy sauce landed elegantly inside it. He was smiling to himself the whole time Aurelia babbled on about what the baby was going to look like. "I for one like your red hair and while I don't look into Hugh's eyes on a regular basis, I'm sure that the baby you envisioned is going to look lovely either way."

But when she mentioned her mother, Damian couldn't help but let out a little sigh. He couldn't help but thank Merlin that he wasn't born a girl; he didn't enjoy thinking about all the painful things he saw his sister and all his friends go through. Still though, at moments like this he couldn't relate to Aurelia's worry. Reaching for the broccoli he gave her a comforting smile. "You're a strong woman, Auri - one of the strongest I know. You'll be fine and at this rate, not only will the baby get worry lines," he reached over to poke her gently inbetween her forehead, "you will too."


Damian moved to dump the lot of broccoli into the boiling water with the noodles before speaking again, "Take it one day at a time, Auri. Whatever happens, happens. Now, watch the chicken breast for me. I think it needs to be flipped soon."

Aurelia had known that no offense was really taken, but Damian had been so good to her in the days where Hugh hadn’t been around that she didn’t want him to think that just because senior ‘sweeps her off her feet’ was back in town that she would forget about his good heart. “You’re a big part of my life too deary. Whatever the outcome of this thing, it’ll need fed.”

She’d never thought about all of that. The red head wondered how much of her life would really be changing. It never really sunk in until she realized that perhaps she should start thinking about these things. But it completely went against the one day at a time motto that Damian so eloquently presented her.

Besides. First was first. She needed to tell Hugh.

But her attention was drawn to her personal chef when he spoke again about her, and that she would manage. Well of course he could be optimistic. His entire life didn’t hinge on the fact that he’d been the demise of his mother. She had. Her whole life was always reverted back to that single idea, even if she’d come to terms with it all.

She forced a small smile, and didn’t even flinch when he pressed on her forehead. That action made her draw in a small breath; the smells of the room intoxicating her taste buds.

As instructed, Aurelia watched the chicken in the pan, and when it was time, she used the old fashioned way and found herself a utensil to turn the poultry. Her dish was coming together lovely now.

“I’ll need to know how to cook.. Do you think.. I mean, if you have free time.. Would you maybe consider teaching me a thing or two? Just so I could manage? Yanno.. So my poor innocent babies don’t go hungry and such..”

The last line was said with a big of a smug grin, knowing if her awkward asking didn’t draw him in, that the hunger of her poor, defenseless children to be would. How completely wicked, but funny none the less.

Damian looked up and smiled and Auri, his blue eyes twinkling at her compliment laughing a little at how silly he knew he would sound. "Friends forever, am I right, Auri?"

He went back to check on the sauce, stirring it a few times with a wooden spoon and taking a small sample of it, nodding to himself, a pleased smile spreading over his face. Turning back to Aurelia, he caught that forced little smile and wondered if maybe it was something he had said. Instead of saying anything though, he held out the spoon to the red head who was in the process of turning over the chicken breasts as a means of amends. "Want to try some? It's coming along lovely."

When he had passed her the spoon, he moved his attentions to the pasta which was coming along nicely as he gave it a stir. A few more minutes in there and it would be ready to take out. Just as he was about to throw a dash of spices onto the chicken breasts, he raised an eyebrow at Aurelia's odd way of asking that was coupled with her smug grin.

"Why in the world are you asking like that? I live right across the street from you and Hugh for Merlin's sake. Just pop by whenever." He paused, smirking back although it didn't match his light, humorous tone, "And for the record, I'm only teaching you because I don't want those babies of yours not knowing what real food is."

“Forever and a day.” She replied in something of a chipper fashion. Oh the hormones; from one extreme to another. She felt awful for the people in her life who were going to play victim to such uncontrollable urges and mood swings. Still, thus was life she supposed; a big part of it too, given the circumstances.

Aurelia helped alongside of Damian, finishing with the flipping of the chicken before tasting some of the sauce. It wasn’t really testing since she knew it would be perfect, but she did thank him for the sample anyways. Whatever was growing in that belly of hers was certainly going to know fine food, that was certain.

“Oh yeah,” the red head jested in a teasing fashion. “I sometimes forget you almost live with me.. You know, all the fine cooking and all.” She considered cracking a joke that if Hugh ever ran off that she’d be moving in with him; but she didn’t want the evening to be interrupted with awkward comments. Especially after the way Mildred had always tried pushing the two together.

It made her wonder if Damian really was happy though; sure he had the pub and cooking, but what was life without someone to share it with? Regardless, he always had her; even if it was just as a dear friend. He was really too much of a sweetheart sometimes. She pitied the girl who tried to capture his heart though; she’d have one hell of an inquiry as to her intentions from the red headed woman. Only the best for her darlings, of course!

“Of course.” She agreed with a completely mock stern expression. For the sake of her future children’s stomachs. Sometimes Aurelia just wished they did live together; it would make all this cooking business a lot easier on her, that was certain.

Double checking the pasta again, Damian grabbed a drainer and lifting the pot over to the sink where he drained the excess water, the cooked noodles spilling into the drainer along with the nicely pieces of steamed broccoli. A pasta dish came floating along conveniently dropping onto the counter beside him and after a finally shake to get rid of the excess water, he poured the contents into the dish.

He let out a laugh, "Please. Your kitchen is hardly used, I feel bad for the poor thing. If anything it's the other way around - it's more like you live in my kitchen." Grabbing the pan with the now cooked chicken breasts, he gracefully arranged them on top of the pasta. "I'm surprised you haven't asked earlier to learn how to cook, it is just like potions you know."

Giving the sauce one last stir, he grabbed the saucepan and poured the sauce onto the food without spilling and sending all the dishes on their way to the sink. "Of course, with children on the way, it's never too late to learn how to, right?" Damian asked with a grin as he grabbed a few pieces of parsley and putting it on top of one of the chicken breasts. Giving the bowl a wipe with one of the tea towels from anything that he might have spilled, he grabbed it and placed it gracefully in front of Aurelia, a fork and knife appearing nicely on either side of the bowl.

"Your dinner is served. I'll get that lemonade, no alcohol of course."

He had her at that; her kitchen was rather bare and all the fine cooking utensils left untouched for some years now; even when she was younger, Mildred had never been big on making home cooked meals. Alas, this was going to change – with his help of course!

“True. I’ll have to learn sometime; I can’t rely on you to feed me forever.. You have the rest of London at your doorstep already; I’m sure catering to my taste buds can get a bit taxing at times. I love you for it though; your inability to turn me away.”

Aurelia gave a good chuckle as she scooted her chair closer to the counter. When her plate was presented, the girl’s stomach gave a great lurch, signaling that she should quit staring at its beauty and consume it. She gave her stomach no protests, grabbing up her fork with her delight.

“You know me too well.” She beamed, digging her fork into the mixture of chicken, noodles, and broccoli topped with the creamy sauce. Where to start, where to start.

A few bites in, and Aurelia was absolutely certain that her cooking would never reach this level of perfection, but she could try at least. Hugh and whatever child grew in that belly of hers deserved at least a good effort. And besides, Damian had mentioned it was like making a potion. She never really looked at it that way. If it really was anything like that, then she would certainly be aces at it, as potions were her specialty.

“You’re too good to me.” Aurelia managed to get out between delighted bites from her plate.

Shrugging, Damian leaned over the counter, a glass of lemonade appearing beside Aurelia's meal. "What can I say? I'm a sucker for feeding people, without people like you I would have no job."

It really did make Damian happy to see people eating the food he cooked. It just made life seem a bit more simple, a bit more happy just the way he liked it, or at least would have preferred it to be. "That's what happens when we've been school mates since we were 11 Auri," he replied with a laugh.

Mentioning the potions thing was just a way to hopefully make cooking simpler for Aurelia. Damian knew that she had been amazing at potions when they were in Hogwarts, and it escaped him how someone who had been up there in the class couldn't at least make a simple meal. But then again, some things just didn't come easily to others like cooking did to him. "We can start those lessons whenever you want. And you'll see that once you get a recipe in front of you, it'll be like being back in potions class at Hogwarts."

Could it really be that simple?

Aurelia was a tad doubtful; except coming from Damian, she was going to believe it. There would be no reason for him to fib about anything to her. So all this time she could have been a great chef; wowing her own friends with home cooked meals? Instead she was buried in hospital work making the world supply of potions for the ill. Lovely.

“Then I’ll see you when you get home tomorrow.” She replied with a smile, poking her fork repeatedly at the dish in front of her.

Forkful after forkful the red head managed the entire plate. Generally she had enough leftover to take home for the next day’s lunch; but apparently toting around baked goods of one’s own made that person’s appetite outrageous. At this rate, she was afraid she wouldn’t fit into her favorite pair of jeans by morning.

“I swear I feel like I’m eating for three, instead of two..” She laughed and covered her mouth as something that resembled a burp came from her. How gross. Immediately apologizing, the red head continued her laughter.

"Sounds like a plan," Damian replied with a nod, smiling as she polished off the rest of the dish. As soon as she set down her fork and knife, the cutlery and the plate were whisked off to the sink to be washed.

Damian pretended to wince as the red head let out a huge burp, "Geez, Auri. It certainly sounds like you've got more than one person in there." His wince turned into a grin in a matter of seconds though, his laughter soon joining hers. "But I'll take it as a compliment. And besides, I don't think anyone else heard it but me and the rest of Diagon Alley."

"Can I tempt you with dessert? You could learn a thing or two as well..."

Damian was nothing short of a very gracious guest; Aurelia knew that despite eating the entire plate of food he’d literally just made her, she could certainly go for something sweet. How awful she felt though. Soon she was going to be eating him out of house and home; it was a good thing that he worked with mass quantities of food though; she was going to have to start buying by the bulk at this rate!

“It was the most informal compliment I’ve ever given.” Aurelia tried to stop her laughter, but found it hard to given the lightheartedness of their environment. Off in the distance she could hear the clink and clatter of dishes being washed and dried. Perhaps she would just give up hospital work and be a dish washer and just work for food. It was silly, but Aurelia couldn’t help but think she could live off of Damian’s cooking forever.

“Dessert would be wonderful my dear; so long as it includes chocolate…”

No matter how many times he tried to reinforce the fact that he didn't mind cooking for all his old friends, people seemed almost ashmed at asking him. If he hated cooking for people, he wouldn't have gone into the culinary arts profession, would he now?

Damian chuckled and nodded as he pulled out a menu from thin air and placed it in front of the two so they could see. "Chocolate, huh? Well we could make a chocolate mousse cake, unless you just want crepes with a lot of whatever you want on there."

He motioned the kitchen behind him. "As you can tell, we're prepared for anything here."

Aurelia was ticked at the idea of helping make dessert with Damian; though it would be a lie to say it was currently the learning she yearned for, but the fact that when they were done there would be chocolate deliciousness ready for her consumption. The red head grinned and managed her clean sweater off; leaving her in the jeans and burgundy lace tank she'd been hiding underneath the sweater.

With a quick flick of her wand, the redhead's long strands tied themselves back in a long braid so that her hair wouldn't get in the way. Chopping veggies had been easy enough; but actually getting in there to play with the confectioneries and treats - this was serious business for her.

"Let's make the moose!" Aurelia cracked another grin and prepared to be given her first set of instructions.

He couldn't but smirk as he flicked his own wand as a multitude of pots, pans and utensils came flying gracefully from all over the kitchen. "Look at you, already getting into this thing like a pro." An apron followed up the line of kitchen utensils and wrapped itself gracefully around Aurelia. "Don't want you getting all dirty, now do we?"

Damian motioned towards the sink as he moved there himself. "Wash your hands first otherwise you're not touching any of that chocolate." Just as he spoke of course, all the ingrediants that they would be needing hovered and landed nicely on the counter beside them.

Aurelia made a quick task of pulling her hair back and getting her hands washed for phase two of culinary delights and making them. She hummed the tune of twinkle twinkle little star as the pair stood over the sink and washed their hands; supposedly the length of the song was an indicator of how long one was to wash to be properly clean of germs. She knew this because of the hospital, and only assumed it was similar.

"We've talked an awful lot about me today and I feel quite rude for dominating conversation. How have you been? Have you any sweet ladies hiding away who throw themselves at you for your recipes? Other than me that is." She grinned and gave his shoulder a small bump.

He was jostled a bit as he pulled up beside Aurelia to wash his own hands and she playfully bumped him. "There's not much to talk about in my life, Auri," Damian finally replied with a laugh, which for the most part was true. The gastropub was his life and if someone told his younger self that he would be working almost 24/7, he was sure that he would have laughed.

With all that work, it was no surprise that he hadn't gotten out and about in a while either. Merlin. He was becoming a hermit or something. "Hardly. I'm too busy with this place to be involved with any relationships." Wiping his hands off, he walked over to the counter where we began cutting up pieces of chocolate to melt over the stove. "Not saying that I don't have a few of my mates trying to set up, of course."

Aurelia smiled; even if she felt a little awful on the inside for bringing such things up. Obviously he hadn’t wanted to talk about it, and she should have been able to see that. This made her smile falter just the slightest as she followed after Damian with her own dripping hands. Aurelia took up the lower half of her apron, wiping away the drips as she again took up a spot next to her chef extraordinaire.

“I’m either going bonkers or maybe these hormones are really getting to me, or then again, perhaps it might have something to do with pre wedding jitters; but I sometimes wish Hugh hadn’t stumbled back into my life..” It was a mouthful for the redhead to say, and she certainly didn’t like the look Damian was giving her; but she only laughed a little and bit her lip.

“I mean. Don’t get me wrong. I am grateful that he did; I feel like the luckiest girl that ever lived because I’m getting my fairy-tale ending, brudes of children and all. And I guess that’s all I’ve ever wanted..” Well geeze, now it seemed like she was rubbing it in his face, which wasn’t the point either. “Well. I’m just saying. If he never would have come back, I think maybe I could have made you happy. At least you wouldn’t have to rely on your mates in finding you someone, I mean. Well. I don’t know really what I mean, to be honest. But I just want to see you happy darling. You’ve been one of the truest friends I’ve ever had in my life.”

Oh dear, here came the waterworks. Aurelia patted at her eyes with the apron, shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I’m going to get the chocolate all salty with tears.”

Damian could already tell that he wasn't going to like where this part of the conversation was going. It had been dark times when Hugh had left and while the two were both his friends, Damian hadn't exactly happy with the two of them during that time.

He paused mid-chop and set down his knife down with a sigh, his blue eyes becoming a bit sad. While he had to admit that he and Auri had instantly clicked when they first met at Hogwarts, his feelings for her had never really gone beyond anything but friendship despite what it may have looked like to others on the outside. At one point he had even told her that she and Hugh were his picture of the ideal couple so seeing him in the picture in any sort of way was awkward. That and he was right horrible at making people feel better.

"Don't talk like that, yeah? I don't feel alone in the least bit, I'm too busy for relationships at the moment anyhow. If it makes you feel any better, you can set me up any time and I'll make time for it." Damian's lame attempt at a joke faded and his eyes softened as he smiled and gently pushed away the apron from her face and handed her a proper tissue. "I'm happy you feel that way, Auri, but you can't worry about the past. Like I said," he gently touched the space between her forehead, "Don't want those worry lines early, right?"

Motioning to the chocolate he smiled. "How about chopping this for me and I'll start getting the rest of the stuff ready?"