Thistle Farm. ((Payton))

[sethia]

It had been several months since it happened, since the accident that had brought Sethia out of Hogwarts and back to her home in Yorkshire. Her aunt, Hetty had been in a car accident that had her in hospital for several weeks and confined to a bed at home for months. Sethia had come home just after the accident to care for, and when she went home, Sethia became solely responsible for the far and the running of its business. Her aunt directed and Sethia followed. However, her aunt was much better now, she was even able to walk for short intervals and it was summer, which brought a new joy to Sethia’s life for Payton was coming to visit her.

“I’ll be back in an hour Aunt Hetty, I left everything you need right by the table,” Sethia called as she grabbed her denim jacket off the wall. She had helped her aunt into the parlor earlier that morning, she was pleased to see her out of her room for the first time in so long. Her accident had been terrible, she had crushed her pelvis and broken her hip, she still had glass in her arm, but a surgery was scheduled for later that summer.

After the accident, Sethia was a basket case for several days. She had lost her whole family to drunk driver and here it was that she almost lost her last living relative by the same means. The man who had hit her aunt was on his way home from the local pub, and Hetty was in town running late from a meeting with the butcher and the local market. He hit her broadside, right on the driver’s side, sending glass into her arm and face and breaking several of her bones. It was touch and go for the first few days, Sethia didn’t eat and barely slept or spoke during that time. If Hetty had died she would have been alone.

Luckily, Hetty pulled through but couldn’t function on her own, she was constantly in pain, and Sethia made the decision to stay at home to be there for her. If she hadn’t the farm would have gone under with no one to check on its affairs and her aunt would’ve to hire a nurse to take care of her.

Sethia ran out the house to the car that was waiting for her. “Thanks Uncle Mickey,” she said to the man driving. He was her neighbour and though not family, he was still ‘uncle’. He was going into town to pick up his wife from a hair appointment and was generous enough to take Sethia to the station to meet Payton. He would also be brining them back home.

Sethia stood on the platform of the small train station in her town. She was on time; Payton’s train should be arriving any second now. Her excitement grew with every moment that passed. She couldn’t wait to see him again. For the last few months he had written her, almost everyday and she him. She missed him a lot, but now he was coming there to Yorkshire and her home.

[payton]

He let his forehead press against the train window as they rushed along the country side. He has been waiting for this day to come for months now, and now that it was here the train ride seemed the worse of it. All he could think about was how soon he would turn 17, and how soon he would be able to simple apparate to her whenever he wanted to. It seemed like an eternity ago when she told him about what had happened and that she was leaving Hogwarts for the rest of the term. The timing couldn't have been worse--they had just established where they stood and how they felt about one another, and there would be no way to see her again until after school left out. Now, school had been officially out for some time, but it had proved harder than he had originally anticipated to get time off of work, as a steady job was a necessity of life when it came to the Moore family.

He was rather lost in his own thoughts of what it was going to be like to see Sethia again when he started to feel the train slowing down. As his focus returned he saw that there was a platform, and with a rather loud noise, the train finally halted. He pushed himself up out of his seat and rather up his bag before moving slowly down the aisle following the people also getting off at this stop. He stepped out onto the platform, looking around for Sethia immediately. In effort to make himself easy to spot he had pulled on his black t-shirt that bore the Hufflepuff crest, though he suspected his hair would be enough for her to sight him. After stepping onto the platform he realized it was far from necessary, as this place was not like London. In the London station finding someone was nearly impossible, but here, he looked up and he saw her.

It was odd really. He had been picturing their reunion the whole trip, and now that he was here, his mind couldn't remember anything for how he wanted it to go. They had kept in touch since she left; An owl almost every day, but that could never make up for the real thing. He knew how her life was going, how her Aunt was healing, and how things were being managed n the farm. His owls to her had been filled with updates on school, then his family and his job, but that could never make up for not seeing her for so many months. He stood for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts that had escaped him, but before he knew it, he was moving toward sher, his bags hitting the ground with loud thuds just before he reached her and his arms wrapping around her and pulling her close, lifting her up off the ground.

[sethia]

Sethia watched nervously as the train pulled up and came to a stop. It was here, and that meant Payton was there also. She looked as one by one passengers disembarked, none of whom were Payton. There was a plump woman in a floral dress and a straw hat, that Sethia recognised as Mrs. Pottersby who ran the small garden supplies shop in town. The next person to catch her notice was a rather short, thin man with dark hair, swept to one side to hide his bald spot. However she was not looking for these people, she only wanted to see one person at this point.

She started moving closer to the train looking for Payton, when finally she spotted him stepping off the train. She stopped in her tracks, there he was she could hardly believe it as the smile spread over her face. She had planned exactly what she’d say and do when she saw him, ever since they talked about him coming, but now that he was there she was at a loss, she was too overwhelmed with excitement.

He started moving towards her and she did the same, she still couldn’t believe he was really there. Before she knew it she was off her feet and in the air, her arms wrapped around Payton’s neck, hugging him. She was so happy to see him. when he finally put her down she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, “Hi,” she said not able to say much else at that moment.

[payton]

He was grinning wider than he had since New years, and if it was possible, it grew even more when she kissed his cheek, and action he returned with a rather innocent brush of her lips against his own. He was so happy to see her he could hardly think straight.

"Hi to you too."
His eyebrows raised at the comment, and he adjusted the bag he had on his back. He chose this bag specifically because he wanted to have at least once free hand once he reached Sethia because after how long they had been apart he had no intention of letting go of her again until the last possible moment.
"Time on the farm has been good to you. You are as pretty as ever."
He leaned forward and placed another kiss on her forehead as one of his hands clasped around her own. They had lost months together, and now that she was here with him, he could hardly imagine he had even survived so long with out seeing her.

[sethia]

She all but turned scarlet as he brushed his lips against hers, and she nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. She looked up and out of the corner of her eye she saw an old couple watching them with smiles, the couple were still holding hands, even at their age.

She couldn’t stop smiling. She did blush when he told her that she was as pretty as ever. “Payton,” she said her face red. “Thank you.” She closed her eyes as he kissed her forehead, she liked when he did that. Her fingers intertwined with Payton’s as he took a hold of her hand. She couldn’t believe that it was months since they had last spent time together, it seemed like forever, but he was there now and that was all that mattered.

She looked at him gleefully, squeezing his hand gently. “I’m so glad you’re here. I could hardly wait for you to arrive,” she said rambling, her joy overcoming her. “Come on I have so much to tell you.” She waited for him to pick up his other bag, “Do you want me to get that?” she asked, though knowing Payton, he wouldn’t let her. “My neighbour is going to be taking us to the farm on his way back home. They’re ten miles up the road from us, so it’s on his way,” she explained as she lead him to the parking lot.

[payton]

She mentioned his other bag and he glanced down, realizing he had almost forgotten it. He smiled at her offer to take it and shook his head, reaching down to pick it up while never letting go of her with his other hand.
"Nope, I got it."

He grinned again, nodding as she explained that her neighbor was going to take them back to the farm. It seemed rather odd to him. You walked from the train or took a bus to taxi. It seemed off to have to drive someone instead of taking public transportation. It also seemed off not to have things in walking distance.

"Is he waiting for us or is he on his way?"
He didn't want to make their ride wait, no matter how much he wanted to drag Sethia aside and steal another kiss. He grinned at the thought then glanced over at Sethia, eyebrows raised as usual when he was thinking something he wasn't saying.

[sethia]

Sethia smiled at Payton refused to let her carry his bag for him, just as she’d predicted. He was so chivalrous; she knew he would never let her help him, at least not with carrying his bags. She was beaming, she couldn’t help it, it had been far too long since she’d last been able to see Payton. she couldn’t help but think that this was going to be a very different summer for Payton, having never had to deal with all the little intricacies of a farm before, it would be a change from the city life he knew.

Sethia remembered what visiting Payton’s family was like at Christmas, his huge family with all of their wonderful traditions. She had enjoyed every minute of it, being part of his large family, even if it was just for a little while. The city was overwhelming to her, everything was so big, so noisy, but the Moore house was warm and inviting, she would love to visit again. Her home was different, there was just her and her aunt Hetty, no one else. Hetty had never married, never had children, all she had was Sethia.

Sethia came back from her thoughts of her trip to London, “Oh, Uncle Mickey’s waiting in the parking lot,” she said and led Payton in that direction. “My aunt can’t wait to meet you Payton. You’re all I’ve talked about for weeks,” she said running on, not her usual behaviour. “I mean,” she said catching herself. “Well it’s true,” she said with a smile as she neared the car. “Hi Uncle Mickey,” she said as she opened the backdoor and the gentleman stepped out the front. He went to the back and unlocked the trunk, “Just put your things in there young man,” he said with a strong Irish accent. “I’m Mickey McCleary, and this is my wife Maggie,” he said pointing to the woman in the front seat. “Well let’s get a going Seth, it’s a long drive there.” Sethia nodded, flashed Payton a smile before getting into the back seat. Mickey followed suit and got behind the wheel. Once Payton was in they were off.

[payton]

He smiled hello to the man Sethia called uncle, but was apparently just a neighbor not an uncle. A bit confusing, but then coming from his family he was use to worse. Soon he was getting into the truck beside Sethia, once safely inside, his hand reaching for hers again, then glanced out the window. It seemed strange to be in a personal vehicle, he almost always took public transportation. It also seemed strange to look out the window and see something other than concrete and buildings.

"Its a different world here."
He looked back a Sethia, giving her a happy, easy going smile. She had to feel about the same when she came to London.

[sethia]

Once they were on their way, Payton took her hand again and she beamed as she looked at him. She was so happy he was there. She squeezed his hand gently as he told her that it was a different world there, “Yeah it is, it’s my world,” she added. “Welcome.”

Sethia knew how Payton must feel, when she had come to London and seen the buildings, she was in absolute awe. However it would be the reverse for Payton, there were no tall buildings, no concrete for miles, no throngs of people in the streets trying to knock you over. There was green here, everywhere. Roads could run for miles and you would hardly see another soul but cows in the fields. There were trees, open spaces, clear skies and fresh air.

“You’ll get used to it. It’s not bad,” she said with a smile. They were passing through town now, well what they called town. “See there?” she said pointing. “That’s Mrs. Winter’s shop, she’s been there for the last forty years. She makes the best pecan pie. There’s Noel Gooding’s Multipurpose Shop, he has everything and anything you could want, and if he doesn’t he’ll get it. He’s also been here longer than I have,” she added.

“That’s the post office,” she pointed out again. Her tone lowered as she whispered to him and pointed to what looked like an empty street but Payton would be able to see since he was a wizard. “That’s O’Geery’s pub, wizards come there. They have a Floo, but I didn’t think you should use it since,” she said her eyes moving to the couple in front. Being muggles all they saw was a empty street she wouldn’t’ be able to explain where Payton came from. No one knew she was a witch except her aunt and her aunt’s Wicca friends.

Soon they were out of town and heading down the long stretch home.