Goodies for Practice (Josh/Lance/Genevieve/open)

[Lance Jordan]

Lance finished his cookie, licked his fingers of crumbs and calmly stood up. He was wondering where Genevieve was, and he had a feeling his brother wanted to be alone with Eve.

"Hey guys I'm gonna go back to the castle and get cleaned up. Thank you for the gift Eve, you're so good to us." He would have hugged her goodbye like he normally did but considering she was curled up in Josh's arms he climbed back onto his broom to head back to the castle.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh looked up to Lance. He gave him a quick glance. Josh opened his mouth to say that he didn't have to go. Lance probably wanted to go find Genevieve. Both brothers seemed to be spending a lot of time with the girls alone, but that was ok. They were both slowly telling them how much they cared about them, and in the sense of more than friends, however Josh wasn't sure if they were catching on.

He rubbed his hand up and down Eve's to attempt to keep her warm. "Do you want me to take you back to the castle, or do you want to stay out here a little bit longer?"

[Eve Mallory]

Eve frowned as Lance left. Was it something she had done or said to make him want to leave? At least Josh wasn't running off too. She missed the days when it was the three of them but she realized she shouldn't be so selfish, and it wasn't like she didn't like Genevieve. Oh...Genevieve, she sighed inwardly, clean up was probably code for find his crush. She smiled at Josh, yes at least he wasn't running off as well. Oh well. It wasn't as if she didn't like spending time with him alone either. Things had been changing all around and she wasn't sure, but maybe just maybe there was hope for her yet.

"No this is nice." she told him. It was a little nippy but she didn't mind, she liked the thought of being kept warm.

[Josh Jordan]

"Good, because I honestly don't want to move." Josh flashed her a grin. "You're soft and warm, and not to mention cuddly." He moved as close to her as he could to indicate that he was telling the truth. Josh preferred moments like this one. These were the types of moments he lived for. He was close to Eve, and she was close to him, both feeling at ease.

Josh rested his head against hers. He loved being able to smell the wonderful scent of her hair. If he could, this would be the perfect moment to tell her how he felt, but he couldn't. He was going to save it for whenever the ball came. Josh had to make her believe and see that he was changing first, before he actually told her. If he told her, he was frightened that she may not believe him.

[Eve Mallory]

"Am I?" she asked laughing but being all those things for him. She sighed, turning so she could lean against him she brought the cookies to her lap and set them down on one of the other benches then using his top robe she took it off her shoulders and spread it over them like a blanket, "Christmas break is coming up." she informed him.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh snuggled underneath the his top robe with Eve. If time could only stand still for a few moments. Pulling her as close as he could without bringing her into his lap, Josh smiled. "Yeah, I know. I'm pretty excited. Are you and your father going to come over and stay this year? You know that you're more than welcome to and we could have a lot of fun as usual."

Without thinking, Josh's hand automatically started to rub Eve's arm like eariler, but this time it was a slower movement. He would be happier if this was official, but he would just deal with what it was.

"And of course I will get you something for Christmas, well several things for Christmas." Josh loved to spoil Eve whenever he could. "What would you like?"

[Eve Mallory]

"Probably just me this year." she smiled at him. She didn't know how she did it, how it was even possible, but she had kept her father's state of emotional distress...drunkeness... a secret all this time and she didn't want it coming out. She wasn't ebarassed of her father...no she understood why he did the things he did....perhaps she was just worried of getting hurt. She didn't want the boys to pity her, or her father for what had happened.

She tilted her head up to peer at him, " Just you." she answered as for gifts, "You and Lance, and your parents and Viv." she included Viv too because contrary to her jealousy she did like the girl a lot, " I want you all to have a wonderful Christmas and if that happens it'll be the best Christmas ever." she wasn't one for material things she just wanted her friends to be happy. But if she could have one thing this Christmas it was something that she didn't dare ask for.

Laying her head against his chest she sighed Josh had her first kiss, mistletoe at a child's age, but as she changed she realized that kisses changed too, and she wanted her "first" kiss to be given by the same man, *that* was what she wanted for Christmas.

[Josh Jordan]

"Well, as long as you'll be there, it'll be just fine." Eve's father never really came around that often. Even when they were kids, he got to where he rarely saw her father, but he wasn't going to make a comment about it. He didn't want to upset or anger Eve for asking.

Josh grinned. "Oh, so you want me twice? I'll have to think about that one now. I could wrap myself up in a box with a big bow on top. That would be pretty interesting." He gave a chuckle. "But you already have us Eva. And you know that we'll have the best Christmas ever, just like every year. I'll think of something to get for you. I have to find ways to spoil you. It's not the same if I don't."

[Eve Mallory]

"You spoil me already." she laughed. If it wasn't for her Aunt Agatha she wouldn't have two nickels to rub together considering her father let his business run to waste after her mother died. Aunt Agatha put it all to rights so she still had her penn money, and money for clothes and such, but she usually saved and scrimped everything she could and then bought something for the boys.

"Although the thought of you in a big box is kind of funny." she smiled looking over her shoulder at him.

[Josh Jordan]

"Spoiling you is fun. Plus, I like watching you open things. You're like a little kid when you do. It's entertaining." He looked down at her with his same grin. "And me appearing in a big box might just happen. It depends on if I can find a box big enough. There is no way that I'm letting Lance help me wrap it though. I might be able to wrap it myself." He put a finger to his chin. "Although, what should I jump out with? That is the big question. I'll think of something surprising. Besides, I've got a few weeks to think about it."

[Eve Mallory]

She laughed at the ridiculousness of the conversation, but that was Josh, putting her at ease and making her laugh, " You're too big to fit under the tree. I on the other hand could fit quite nicely in a box under your tree." she stated proudly, she wasn't all that proud of her size but she could make jokes about it. "Although no I wouldn't trust Lance to wrap you in a box either, you'd probably never get out."

[Josh Jordan]

"Who says I have to go under the tree? I could go next to it and then on the box could be a big To: Eva sign." He gave her a playful grin. "Of course you could fit under the tree, but I already have you and I wouldn't want to wrap you up because Lance might be mean enough to unwrap you before I could. Lance wouldn't want to unwrap me. He'd leave me there, therefore it would be better." He continued to gently rub her arm.

"And I'm glad that you agree! Lance is great at quidditch, and he's decent when it comes to some cooking, but he can't wrap for nothing, but he does try. I have to give him that. Oh! And on Christmas morning, we can go wake Lance and Genevieve up. What do you say? We could pull a prank on them or something."

[Eve Mallory]

Eve smiled and rocked gently in his arms, " Mmm more days like this." she said still listing her Christmas wishes. "Can we have more days like this?" she wanted to know but then she was startled at what came out of her mouth. It was his fault for lulling her into a false sense of security what with his hand rubbing her arm gently.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh was slightly surprised at her question, but he smiled nevertheless. It seemed like she was responding to the way he was slowly giving her hints about how he felt. Although he was slightly surprised, he couldn't be more happy that she wanted to spend more time with him.

"Of course we can," said Josh. "We can make everyday just like this one if you want. I don't mind if everyday is like this. I'm used to it already. Plus, I have to say that I enjoy times like these."

[Eve Mallory]

"Okay." she said softly turning her eyes back ahead of her where they had a slight view. His "hints" confused the hell out of her but she wasn't complaining, no she wasn't about to complain.

She laughed a little and took his hand in hers, "We've actually been doing a while...did you notice?" she asked unsure if he had been aware that they had been left alone quite a bit recently usually Viv or Lance were with them. She wanted to know what he thought about it.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh felt her hold his hand. He didn't complain. Instead he closed his fingers around her little hand. Sure, he had held her hand before, but this time felt a little different. He wasn't sure why, but he didn't bother to question it.

"I've noticed, but I don't mind it actually. Spending more time with you is just fine with me. Plus, we don't have to watch Lance day dream about Genevieve all day." Josh gave a laugh. "Do you mind it?"

[Eve Mallory]

She laughed, " He's not that bad." and I'd rather have him daydream about her than you dream about her, she finished firmly in her own mind.

She shook her head no, " No I don't mind. I kind of miss him...and Viv of course but...no I don't mind..." and it was strange for her not to mind. She could be with Josh and everything was fine, she'd want Lance or Viv there but they didn't have to be and sometimes like now when he was holding her and when they were talking like this and when the mood seemed...intimate no she didn't mind that they were alone at all. But if it were just Lance and her, or just Viv and her...something was missing *Josh* was missing, and she didn't like it.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh laughed again. "No, Lance's day dreaming is not that bad. It's always fun making him stop."

He squeezed her hand gently. "Good. I'm glad that we don't mind the same things. Plus, you know I would never do anything you didn't want to." Josh gave her a wink. He loved the time he got to spend with Eve alone, because he could drop more hints this way. Josh wouldn't have to worry about Lance picking at him if he tried to drop a big hint in front of him.

"You know, I think we should do this once every other day or something. Or we could do something like this every day. It's quite peaceful, and I enjoy the company."

[Eve Mallory]

"You mean just us?" she asked him surprised as she looked over her shoulder. She liked the idea sure but she didn't want to appear as if they were abandoning Lance and Genevieve. Still, not wanting to turn him down or hurt him she smiled, " I'd like that...but Ii think we've just been lucky in those two scampering off sometimes...otherwise it's usually the four of us all the time there'd hardly be any time to just hang out just us...would there?"

[Josh Jordan]

"Yes. Just us. I enjoy the time we spend with Lance and Genevieve too, don't get me wrong. But I enjoy these times too. It reminds me of the old times." Josh smiled. "Plus, I don't really think luck has anything to do with it. I'm sure that you've seen the way Lance looks at Genevieve. It's just a matter of Lance being Lance and trying to get the girl of his dreams."

Of course Josh was trying to get the girl of his dreams as well, which happened to be the girl he was holding hands with. "Oh, and trust me, I'd find some way for just us to hang out. It wouldn't be that hard."