Hidden in Plain Sight

Chapter 1:

It hadn’t meant anything initially. They turned to each
other out of mutual need, nothing more. But how had it turned into this? How
had those past events gotten them to where they were now?

She was the intern. He worked with her supervisor. They
hadn’t even liked each other initially. Even like might have been a
little too nice a term to describe their mutual feelings. She couldn’t forget
his prejudices and he couldn’t forget them either.

He was however, impressed. Yes, that was the word – impressed.
She had paved her way without finishing her education. She had helped saved the
world – literally. She had above all, helped save his son. He couldn’t openly
forgive her, or even thank her, but he could peacefully be impressed.

She had hardly respected him. She despised him for being
able to skirt full punishment once again. She was awed, yes – awed, by his
ability to fleece everyone in his acquaintance. But not her – oh no! She knew
exactly who he was and what he felt.

As they looked at each from across the station, they were
both reminded of their original confrontations. Both marveled at how past events
had changed things.

He watched her interact with her friends and family as the
younger crowd prepared to leave for another year of school.

He watched as the group quieted slightly and looked across
the platform; following their eyes he watched another familiar face. He noticed
the cold interaction between the two groups and thought, with a pang, of the
past.

He didn’t take his eyes off the forlorn individual, but
listened as she scolded one of the other men.

She too watched him as he took in her little group. She had
noticed him in the shadows the moment she had entered the station. She couldn’t
help but feel a wrench for him when the other blonde man standing at the edge
of the platform distracted him.

Her attention was reclaimed by an offhanded remark of the
red-haired man beside her. She turned to scold him and couldn’t help but grin
at the memories the group induced. She watched the younger generation
interacting, and couldn’t help but remember her own times.

As the young crowd fled to the train, she turned her gaze
back to the man in the shadows. She could feel his eyes on her. She nodded her
head slightly at him. He returned the gesture and slipped through the shadows
out of the station, just as the train chugged away.

She turned away with the group and said quietly, “Well I
must get going, I’ve missed you all.”

They turned to her in slight dismay, “You can’t at least
come to brunch?”

She shook her head softly and smiled lightly, “I’m so sorry,
but I’ve got to get back and take care of a few things. Ron, don’t forget the
brake when you get back in the car, and if you have problems, you know who to
call.”

She hugged the two red-heads and kissed the black-haired man
on the cheek. She waved to Lily and Hugo, saying cheerily, “Bye darlings, it
was lovely seeing you again and don’t forget to make your daddies go get you
some ices.” She giggled when she heard the two men groan and the children begin
to berate them.

She walked off to a corner off the station and with a
half-turn she had disappeared.