Best Friends (Naomi & Daniel)

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"When he gets to Hogwarts?" Daniel asked in response of her question. "Theo will be eleven." He answered, seeing that she was a little bit distressed. He didn't wish for her to be distressed. "He'll be fine though. You can write to him all the time, and send him gifts. Theo won't need for anything!

"Though he might not want to follow me by that age, he'll be making friends!"

"The one I want to throw off the Astronomy Tower..." Daniel mused. "His name is Lynx, he teaches Charms, though for how much longer I'm not sure. He thinks he's better than me, for some reason." Daniel continued, shaking his head at the thought. "Arrogance isn't becoming of men like him, that's all."

The question of what he would do next made Daniel smile. "Honestly? I have no idea where I would turn to. I struggle finding something that is exciting enough to keep my attention." He admitted, eyes flickering up to the witch, with a stray thought almost leaving his lips before he looked away from her again, trying to ignore the guilt that he felt for even thinking that.

Daniel couldn't help but smile at her words of him being a parasite, or the teasing of him being the big Headmaster. He didn't mind in the slightest, it was part of the reason they got on so well, the light teasing.

The conversation on Theo's schooling was perhaps not the best choice Daniel had made in an effort to keep the conversation light, but when she asked him for his opinion, Daniel paused for a moment. "I think that Theo will be happy no matter where you put him. Don't send him away though, make sure it's a school he doesn't have to board at. I think he needs you around. Public or private, it doesn't really matter. The main question would be as to whether you can afford to send him to Private school so he gets the best start possible?" Daniel asked, not trying to catch her out, just trying to help with the decision.

"I can help you, with the costs, if you want him to go to Private School."

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Sometimes Naomira was taken aback by just how well Daniel seemed to understand with or without intention how she was feeling without even knowing it. "I'm glad then," it was always a huge worry that Theo not just wanted, but needed more than she could give him, and something that ate at her nerves. "He'll have his mum's great ole' college friend looking out for him right?" Her fingers traced the rim of the basket of chips hopefully staring down at them in their crispy delight, not wanting to voice her concern.

"You think so? Both Henry and I are pretty shy people," Naomi asked earnestly conflicted about what her son would end up being like.

"Oh," her mouth formed an 'O' in circle, "well, I doubt he's better than him, and arrogance is the honest to gosh worst thing in a person." She sniffed haughtily before blinking, "is that okay for me to say?" She added after a moment. When it came to her anxiety and nervousness, sharing her feelings was difficult, but she couldn't help it when it came to Daniel. She trusted him with a lot of who she was, he was there when it felt like no one else was.

Naomi had next to nothing to say about Daniel not being able to find something exciting to keep his attention, because if she thought too hard about it she'd get angry about what happened to Daniel in college. She would throw a tantrum, the empathy for someone she cared about deeply being hurt would show prominently. She let out a sigh and nodded understandingly. "I see, just don't forget about your best friend and favorite toddler," she nudged him again with her foot jokingly, before pausing and raising an eyebrow, "unless you know more toddlers than just Theo."

She listened intently to his advice feeling a bit lighter and taking his words to heart, nodding again as she ate another fry. "You're absolutely right, huh?" She asked smiling, "I can afford the schooling, but I-" it was then that the weight of the bills in her purse felt heavy, like stones in her pocket drowning her like the poor waif Ophelia. "I don't- it's uh, I -" she was ready to mention the bills, "I don't think you'll need to help me pay for his schooling." In truth, it would help desperately with the apartment bills and medical potion bills.

"What else is going on with you?" She asked smiling, not wanting to think any further about the bills in her purse. "Meet anyone?" Desperately she was hoping that he would say yes, if just so that she could focus on anyone besides her.

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Daniel held the smile of his in place as she asked about looking after Theo. "It doesn't matter where he is, Naomi, I'll always look out for him!" Daniel insisted, and he meant it. Theo meant way too much not only to him but his best friend too, and nothing would trouble Theo if he could help it. "And I think he'll do fine with making friends, it doesn't matter that you and Henry are shy, he has me!"

The last was something of a tease, but also serious, because Daniel would make sure that Theo had confidence in himself. Somehow.

"Oh, you can say it, course you can. I'm not saying I'm perfect, of course, but that man is a pain in the ass. Terrorizing the children. I had to deal with a first year coming to my office to complain. She has ADHD or something, and Merlin keeping up with her was difficult. Let's just say that I will be keeping an eye on the man, that's for sure!" Daniel explained, giving the witch opposite him a knowing look.

"I see, just don't forget about your best friend and favorite toddler,"

Daniel chuckled softly, chewing on another chip. "I wouldn't ever forget either of you, you know that. I never have. No matter how busy I get, you'll always come first." The man insisted, smiling warmly. "And so far, Theo is the only child in my life, outside of the school, of course."

The comment on money confused Daniel though, because although she said he wouldn't need to help with the schooling, it sounded as if there was something else. Daniel gave her a moment to speak of it on her own accord, but when she didn't explain, Daniel decided to ask. Something wasn't right. "Is everything okay financially, Naomi?" He asked gently, not trying to sound condescending, or as if he was pitying her in any manner. He wasn't pitying her, he was worried, because he knew of the troubles people could get themselves in if they weren't careful, and he simply wouldn't allow for that to happen to his best friend.

"Nothing else is going on with me. Boring as usual, and nobody of a romantic nature that I'm attached to. Much to mum and dad's disappointment of course, but that is neither here nor there." Daniel concluded, he'd never been one for his parents ideals.

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This is what being a parent was supposed to feel like, Naomi thought to herself as she smiled at Daniel and reached out to pat his hand. It didn’t mean she take the responsibility for two, it meant sharing care for their child.

“I believe you, completely,” she murmured, and she smiled at the idea- no the fact- that whether Theo was shy or outgoing, he would have Daniel there to help him. She thanked her lucky stars that Theo had Daniel there to care for Theo; her child wouldn’t live an unhappy life, he’d flourish and she could put her trust in Daniel. Not that she didn’t already trust him enough to never doubt him, it was more about how sometimes she doubted herself. It was good to know she’d never had to doubt Daniel when it came to Theo.

“Oh that poor girl!” Naomi gasped in empathetic compassion for the poor girl, her eyes flashing as she bit her lower lip, “he sounds like a bully and a right shit.” She cringed at her language before she laughed lightly, “sorry, I don’t get to curse much around Theo.”

Another thought came to mind as she drew circles into the table nervously.

“You’ll be there to supervise Theo won’t you when it’s that time?” She put extra emphasis, “I-I couldn’t imagine him being caught by a professor and getting in trouble f-for something he can’t control,” her voice caught a bit on the word ‘for’. She worried desperately for her child’s condition.

Naomi flushed at the phrase about her coming first. She hadn’t had someone care for her in such a way, and often times forgot that Daniel did. Her eyes were soft as she smiled proudly at her best friend.

“I’m sorry I can’t say the same to you,” she told him honestly, “I’ve got Theo to love above all else, but you’re right there in second place.” She added that part a bit apologetically. “I’d be more concerned if you had more children I didn’t know about.” She replied.

Naomi swallowed a chip and winced; she couldn’t lie to Daniel. He was her best friend and her understand her far better than Henry ever had and had been there for her more than anyone else in her life. However, she was scared; what was he going to do if he found out she was getting swallowed up by the finances of upholding an apartment meant for three and medical bills for her child cursed with a condition he couldn’t help. For a moment she contemplated just telling him it was nothing, smiling and then saying she had to leave. Except then she’d be just like her ex-husband running away from her problems instead of facing them. She couldn’t do that. She’d grown so much since she’d come to England from Japan, changing the way she was now would be simply unforgivable

“No not really,” she finally answered as she pulled her purse hesitantly onto the table, withdrawing the multiple notices on late payments from the Apothecary and a single month’s late notice from her landlord she displayed them for him, her shame out in the open. “I-um- I don’t know what to do; the apartment is in a good neighborhood but living there with just Theo is too much. I have to save a good amount of money for his babysitter,” she sighed and ran a hand through her hair staring down at the table, her other hand massaging her temple, “I’m not okay with these bills and I don’t know where I’d move that would be in a good place for Theo to grow up.” She confessed after a moment, feeling a little bit better now that it was off her chest and into the open.

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"He most certainly is a shit." Daniel agreed with the witch, not batting an eyelid at her swearing because it was neither here nor there, if he was honest. "But I won't let him bully anyone anymore, don't worry about that." The Headmaster insisted, because bullying was no longer something he tolerated.

The worrying of Naomi's hands made Daniel reach out and gently cover her hands with his own. He didn't like seeing her worry, and he only meant it as a reassuring gesture. "When Theo is old enough, he will understand everything he needs to about himself. There will be special arrangements made for him, and he will never be thought less of, or told off by anyone in the school." Daniel insisted. "Even if that means I have to expel and fire a lot of people there." He concluded, and you only had to meet his eyes for a second to know that he meant that with all his heart.

The admittance that he could never been the number one person in Naomi's life was not something that was new to Daniel. He was quite aware that he had never been number one, and honestly he had no desire to reach that place. "Being number two was all I ever asked for." Daniel responded softly to the witch's admittance of his position, squeezing her hands gently until she pulled away for her purse.

And it went without saying that if he had a child Naomi would have been the first person to know.

The first to enjoy his happiness of the moment.

But that whole thought was forgotten when Naomi pulled out bills, laden with read, and bold words that were insisting on payment in different forms of politeness. Naomi was talking, but Daniel was too busy looking through the extent of the bills, looking at the fact these were the necessary bills for herself and Theo to live. This... These bills should not have been in this state, and yet they were.

Which meant that Naomi was struggling.

And he hadn't noticed.

Looking up from the papers, Daniel's worry was clear. He wasn't pitying her, he wasn't angry with her. He just didn't like to see her in such a conundrum.

"Move in with me."

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Naomi was glad Daniel was Headmaster. He was very caring and it warmed her to her core to be associated with him. It made her feel even more special that he was her best friend. “I can’t think of any other person alive I’d trust more with Theo.” She murmured taking a sip from her drink. Most days Naomi doubted herself, doubted her decisions, doubted her thoughts, but this was one clear and shiny fact that she could never feel unsure of; Daniel cared deeply- he may have even loved- her son. Theo would want for nothing under his watch, and would never live a life of fear or riddled with too many mental illnesses.

As his hands laid over hers, she was reminded of the various times they’d done this action throughout their friendship. It wasn’t a particularly practiced gesture. Rather it came natural, it was like breathing. Comforting each other, being there for each other, and other actions were things that became instinctual to her. She would die inside if she had to see Daniel cry, and would never be able to live with herself if she didn’t raise a little bit of hell for the tears he’d dropped. Of course, that was her being protective of the sole good person in her life besides Theo.

“You’re absolutely right,” she conceded wiping at a stray tear from the beautiful words he’d given her, she felt a growing confidence in her abilities as a mother, “I forget he’s just a kid right now, and I- I know you care for him enough to make sure that he won’t be mistreated for who and what he is.” Naomi let out a sigh, running a hand through her hair with a shaky laugh, “look at me, I’m a mess, I’m sorry Daniel.”

In her head she wanted to tell him in another world, in another situation, maybe one in which she’d never met Henry and she was back to being just her against the world, Daniel would be her number one. She wanted to tell him that there was no one who cared about her more than he did besides her son. Daniel was very important to her; she would die for him, but she knew he’d never put her in a position to make that kind of decision. In a way it was a good thing, because it meant that he wanted to protect her too, but maybe it could be a bad thing in another lighting in which he couldn’t trust her not to put her life down for him. She was zoning out again, she realized. She squeezed his hands back and nodded.

Her favorite part about Daniel besides his kind, caring, and ever so beautiful heart were his eyes. They were effortlessly expressive, and always spoke of how he really felt. It warmed her to her very essence that he would peel the layers of himself so she could see how he felt. At his next words her eyes widened.

“Oh,” she let out a shaky exhale, her breath catching up, “I-I-that would make us imposing, and I- I don’t- how-you’re busy- Theo too little-,” she was babbling off on things that didn’t make sense, quickly she pulled her hands away to press them to her temple, she closed her eyes to focus on a single stray chip that had flown from the basket to the table to calm her onslaught of panic. After a few moments, she removed her hands and tucked them under her thighs and glanced up at him sheepishly taking in a deep breath before spilling all the thoughts on her mind out.

“ThatwouldmakemyselfandTheoimposersandwouldputyouinaterriblesitua
tionasasinglemanlookingafterabrokenwomanandherchildandIcan’timagin
ebecomingaprobleminyourlifeitwouldhurtmetoomuchtobecomeaproblem
ratherthanasolutionandI’msosorrytohaveevenbroughtthisuptoyou,” she said it all in one breath too; to scared that if she stopped she’d lose her courage.

(That would make myself and Theo imposers and put you in a terrible situation as a single man looking after a broken woman and her child and I can’t imagine become a problem in your life it would hurt me too much to become a problem rather than a solution and I’m sorry to have brought this up to you)

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As the tears formed in Naomi's eyes, Daniel felt himself deflate just a little. Not noticeably, because Naomi could never see how much it hurt him to see her like this, but enough. This was what he tried so hard not to let happen, and yet it always seemed to find a way to do just that. "Please don't cry. It's okay." Daniel whispered, a little helpless in that moment. "You have many years before you even need to worry about this." He reminded her, hoping that it would help in some way.

Years to make sure Theo understood his condition, and how to deal with it, the best he could.

His moment of unguarded words had probably not helped though, and he could see it in the witch's reaction a moment later. The overload, and the dealing with his words. Daniel simply dropped his gaze, giving Naomi a moment with herself to come to terms with what he had just offered her. To either try to work out a good reason not to (which he probably wouldn't accept) or just accept it.

And, of course, it had been the former, like he'd expected.

"It's not imposing." Daniel told her calmly after the very quick, long reason why he shouldn't offer. "And there is no broken woman, nor any implications of you living with me. You've seen where I live, Naomi, it's much too big for me, and you know my parents keep to their wing of the house for the most part. You're not going to be in anyone's way. You'd be able to do whatever you wanted.

"And you're not a problem, Naomi." Daniel insisted, pausing for a moment, before coming up with a plan. "You're going to be a solution to my loneliness." He added a moment later. "The house is much too quiet, so you and Theo are going to move in with me to... make it more homely."

The reason wasn't pushing too much, the house was awfully quiet, so Naomi would be doing him a favour. There would be someone there when he got home, to talk to, to possibly have a meal with. Rather than silence.

"I'm not going to take no as an answer, either." Daniel told the witch with a smile, pulling the letters towards him a little more. "I'll have these paid for you in the morning, and the house elves will come and help you pack." He finished, looking up at the witch with a smile. "You'll make me happy, if you accept my offer to live with me. And, if you don't, I will be hurt." He added, smiling to show he wouldn't really hold it against his best friend if she truly didn't want this.

Guest

Naomi rubbed a bit more at her eyes feeling foolish for crying so freely, and awful that she'd done so in the first place. What did she have to cry about? She had a beautiful, healthy, and happy son. She had a great best friend who gave her more than she deserved, she had a good job. She was living a good life. She was even doing better than she'd ever done before.

"I'm sorry," she murmured and gave a sad laugh, "I don't mean to ruin the night but there I go and go and do it, I can stop. And you're totally right." She let out a sigh and dabbed at her eyes with bar napkins. She smiled up at Daniel. "Thanks for you know, sticking through my little fit with me, I try not to do it often."

Naomi ran a hand through her hair, trying to calm herself down. She was panicking a bit, she didn't want to be troubling Daniel too much but she felt just like she was doing that. He was already spoiling the her son, spoiling her too much, and here she was just taking without giving. She put a hand to her heart and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself again. Reason, use some reason! Think logically Naomi, her brain was telling her to anaylze his words. Just a little bit as if to justify why she shouldn't be freaking out so much.

It was true, Daniel had something of a mansion almost to himself and Theo was only going to get bigger. She didn't want to retire his childhood bedroom and move him into one of the spare rooms, and she didn't want to risk not being able to do the hour and thirty minute drive to the open forest to let him transform without the neighbor's getting curious and without him having to possibly thrash into furniture. Daniel probably had a sizably large backyard for Theo to thrash about in before the Potions kicked in and he no longer had to move around so much.

Loneliness.

Didn't she know it well? She knew the implications of it, and it was why she'd pleaded to share a dorm with Parker Emery. Rooming with someone made the pain that loneliness gave go away. At the same time, Naomi had to applaud Daniel, those were the right things to say and slowly she felt herself being her persuaded into moving in.

"I-I didn't think you would," Naomi said with a sigh, wincing a bit, "I have to at least pay back the bills from St. Mungo's and pharmacies, I couldn't stand seeing you be seeing sad." She sighed and gave him a small smile.

"I don't know when everything is going to happen but please let's at least wait until the weekends so that I can pack everything up. I- I," she didn't know how to express how much it meant to her, "this means the world to me, Daniel, thank you so much."

Guest

"You're not ruining anything, Naomi. We're best friends, we have these talks." Daniel insisted, reassuring her gently that he really didn't mind their dynamic, and it was the truth, he really didn't mind in the slightest.

It didn't take too long to sway Naomi's decision, and for that much Daniel was glad. Though, if she hadn't agreed he would have simply insisted on paying the bills, with or without her knowledge. But with her with him, he could keep an eye on both Naomi and Theo, make sure they had everything they needed.

"We can work out the financial element when you're settled." Daniel told the witch with a small smile. "There most certainly isn't any rush in that respect." He explained, folding up the bills Naomi did have here as she insisted that she would move everything at the weekend. Daniel nodded to show he was listening.

"If you prefer the weekend, that's fine." Daniel agreed, smiling warmly towards his best friend. "I'll need you to send me any unpaid bills so that I can settle everything for you. Also, a list of anything you will be needing. I'll get the house elves to make sure you have everything you need for your arrival."

Daniel nodded once to himself, making sure he'd covered anything. The thank you simply made Daniel shake his head at Naomi. "Sometimes I think you forget I would go to hell and back for you, and that you don't ever need to thank me when I do." Daniel told her, laughing to himself. "Just relax, though, please. From here on in, everything is going to be fine."

Guest

Naomi smiled softly at Daniel’s insistence and nodded, believing his words this time. She felt relieved at his words every time, sometimes wondering how he knew what to say. Wherever he learned to do it, she was grateful he used it with her so often. It calmed her down best when she needed it. She forgot far too often that Daniel knew her best, but somehow he always found a way to make her feel more important than she really was. “Thank you,” she murmured pulling his hands into hers to show her affection and gratitude.

Naomi nodded in reply to his financial element information. Somewhere in her apartment she had the total of what she owed written and she just had to get it in her next paycheck to pay for it, before rationing the rest to next month’s potions and pills. She wished they weren’t a necessity but she was a single mother with a rare lycanthrope cursed child. “Alright, I trust you,” she replied with a small sigh.

She winced at his comment about getting everything ready for her arrival, but quickly recovered telling him she was merely remembering the list of living accommodations she was behind on in her apartment. “Of course, I can owl that to you tomorrow before I head off for work,” she told him brightly, feeling a bit optimistic, a rare emotion.

“And same for you,” she murmured as she smiled softly, she felt so full of happiness, so safe, scared that it was happening all so fast, but so full of happiness, “anytime you need someone, I’m here. I always am.” She didn’t want to wince, but in her mind she wanted those words to be as true as possible. There were things that would happen though… Theo could get sick, Theo could get hurt, Theo … “Well, after Theo of course.” She sighed, but knew that ultimately he understood.

"Just relax, though, please. From here on in, everything is going to be fine."

“I believe you,” and although it went unsaid, Naomi knew that there was no one else in the world she put more faith in than Daniel because he always came through. They spent the rest of the night talking about the past, laughing and smiling, occasionally a lull of comfortable silence letting them enjoy the atmosphere before too soon, she needed to get back home. After embracing him in a parting gesture, she pressed a kiss to his cheek and apparated off, feeling hopeful and fearful but mostly optimistic about the future to come.

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» Republic Act No. 7610 (Daniel)
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