Blowin' in the Wind

[Al Shelton]

Al would be lying if he said that he didn't miss his family back home. He was one of the only siblings that actually moved away from Canton, Wisconsin. The only time he would go back home was for those insane family reunions once a year, and not to mention Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Jackson, the only other boy in the family, had just left Al yesterday to go back home. He and his wife were having problems so he decided to come all the way across the big pond to spend a couple of days with his brother. Al didn't really understand why Jackson really came to him because the only advice he could give his brother was that he needed to talk things out with his wife. However, it was good seeing his brother again.

Now with the house empty, Al cleaned it up again and set off to Diagon Alley just for a day to himself. He wasn't working, so he had to think of a way to take up his time. Maybe he would walk into the bookstore and see if they had any new books on treasure legends, or anything that had to do with history. Or maybe, he would just walk over to the Leaky Cauldron for a butterbeer.

The weather was warming up more. The cold didn't affect Al that much, seeing as he grew up in the cold weathers in America. With a light jacket on, his face scruffy, and his hair looking like he hadn't combed it, Al took to the street of Diagon Alley making his way to the Leaky Cauldron.

Once he reached there, he took a seat near the bar. Al attempted to sit casual in his chair, although he looked sort of odd trying to sit that way. Giving up the casual sitting, he just relaxed back in the chair and took the butterbeer he was given.

[June Bankman]

June was dressed well. Some days, she liked being girly and dressing up for no reason. Talon always seemed to like it, though. She tended to do this on days when he was asleep when she left for work so that she could surprise him when she came home. So she looked somewhat out of place walking into the Three Broomsticks dressed like she was.

Work was over, and she just wanted to stop by for a quick butterbeer before she went home. Maybe she'd even get one for Talon. It depended on how she felt when she left.

She stopped by the bar, and flirted a bit unknowingly with one of the men next to her while she waited, and she turned to look at the patrons, her drink in her hand. It was a beautiful day outside, and there was a great opportunity to people watch, or whatever she felt like. That was when her eyes met a familiar face, and a smile spread across her lips.

"Hey stranger," she said, coming up to his table.

[Al Shelton]

Since he ended up splashing some of his butterbeer on his top lip, Al was pre-occupied with getting it off rather than who was coming in. By the time he finally licked it off and glanced toward the door, he saw no one. Al returned his attention back to his butterbeer and the people sitting around him.

If there was anyone watching him, it would a show. Al was quirky in his own right and if someone was observant of him, it would be completely obvious. He didn't mind however. Rarely did he notice the way he acted.

Al's eyes landed on a girl walking toward him. A smile on his face started to grow and he stood up to greet her. "June! It seems like it's been awhile."

[June Bankman]

"It's been ages!" June said, exaggerating slightly. "Where have you been?" She laughed and went to him. Since he stood up, she hugged him. June was always a pretty physical girl. She lived for hugs and kisses, and gave them out freely... at least, kisses on the cheek. She knew Talon didn't exactly approve, but she saved most of her affection for him.

"Mind if I join you for a little bit?" she asked, gesturing to the empty seat across from him. "Or are you ready to head out?"

[Al Shelton]

"Oh, you know, here and there," he said as he wrapped his arms around her. "You missed Jackson the other day. He just left to go back home yesterday. Him and his wife are, or were having problems and he came here to stay of all places." Al rolled his eyes.

June's affection never bothered him - they were family after all. "Of course I don't mind." Al gestured to the empty seat. "I'm not heading out just yet. I haven't been here that long. Walked in a few minutes ago."

Al took his seat again. "So, tell me Juney, how has life been treating you?"

[June Bankman]

"Aw, no, I would have loved to have seen Jackson. I hope he and his wife figure things out. I hate when couples have problems." June almost laughed. "Sorry, it's barely been thirty seconds and I'm already babbling away. It's really good to see you, Al. I've missed you."

She shrugged at his question. "It's been pretty quiet lately. I'm just working. A friend of mine from school moved into town. Virginia... I don't know if you'd remember her. I think you only met her once when you visited me in France. Talon and I are going on four years now... I've just settled into a routine."

There was a smile when she said it, and June honestly believed that she was happy, but as OCD as she could get, she was never much for routine. She liked surprises, liked things to switch up from time to time.

[Al Shelton]

"The blonde one?" Al adopted a wide grin to his face. "Course I remember her." It was only Al to adopt a wide grin like that when talking about pretty girls. He never meant any harm and he liked to joke around.

"You're still with him?" He never liked Talon that much. It wasn't like Al to not like anyone but he just never cared for the man. The look in his eyes whenever June would hug other men, even family, bothered him. However, Al never spoke his opinion out about Talon because he knew that June cared about him and so far, the man hadn't done anything bad to her.

"It doesn't really seem like it's been 4 years, but congratulations." Al put on a smile for her and shook his head. "I couldn't ever see you in a routine, that's for sure, but whatever makes you happy."

[June Bankman]

June smiled and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, the blonde one. She's still single, you know," she added, teasing her cousin.

She was actually pretty thrilled to have Virginia in town. They had been pretty inseperable during their school days, except when June got too wrapped up in boys and Ginny got too wrapped up in art. It was harder to make friends with girls in London, and having another feminine voice around helped sometimes.

"Yeah, Talon and I are still together. And I like our routine. I get a little bored with work sometimes, but that's just the nature of the Portkey Office. But enough about me. Tell me what you've been up to, how life's been treating you."

[Al Shelton]

"Still single hm? Maybe I can impress her with my amazing moves and wit." Al wiggled his eyebrows before he started to laugh. He was just joking around of course. "Maybe you could set up a date for us?" There was a teasing tone in his voice. "I'm just kidding."

Al usually liked all of June's friends and it wasn't Al if he didn't attempt to flirt with any of her girl friends. It was always completely harmless and it was always just for fun.

"Yeah. That Portkey Office. It sounds like quite the adventure in there. Bet you never have time to breathe." He grinned and took a drink of his butterbeer. "Ah, you know. I've been rummaging around, finding all kinds of hidden treasures. I even went swimming with the sharks off the American coast. Oh, and I got married twice. It was quite amazing." Al's story was completely far fetched. There was no way that he would ever go swimming with sharks and of course he hadn't been married at all.

"Just kidding. Life has been treating me alright. Can't complain too much. If I could just find a story about lost treasure and actually find it, I could be the happiest man in the world as well as the richest."

[June Bankman]

June laughed. "I can set up something. Actually, I was thinking about throwing a get together soon and our place... well, Talon's place. I have to ask him first and see what he thinks, but just an evening between friends sounds good, doesn't it? Now that I know you're here, I'll make sure you and Virginia meet." Actually, she rather suspected that Talon wouldn't like the idea of such a get together, but it couldn't hurt to ask.

"If I get any leads about lost treasure, I'll be sure to let you know. Unused portkeys, now... that I can help you with. And leave my job alone. I like it." She hit him lightly on the shoulder at his teasing about the excitement in her office.

"But I wouldn't put it past you to have gotten married twice."

[Al Shelton]

"Nah, don't worry about setting anything up. I'm sure that I'd probably scare her or something, like I scared you friend, oh what was her name? Megan? No. Julie! I think that was her name. That wasn't a good day. She couldn't understand that I was just joking." Al rolled his eyes.

"Hey, don't hit!" Al poked his lip out in a pout. "I'm going to have a bruise there now, thanks to you. It's going to be a huge bruise that's black and blue." He quickly moved his hand to ruffle her hair. "But that's okay, cause I still love you." He let out a laugh.

"Oh, sure. You can pass the idea of me actually swimming with sharks right by me, but getting married twice? Gosh June. I thought you knew me better than that. I'm not one to really settle down. You know I have to have my adventures."

[June Bankman]

"Tiffany, actually, but who keeps track of names? She just didn't get your sense of humor, is all."

"Getting married on camel-back a couple of times completely sounds like something you would do! And you'd do it twice because you wouldn't settle down."

She slumped back in her chair. "I am exhausted. It's already been a long day. Anyway, if I settle down and Talon ever pops the question, you'll at least come to the wedding, right?"

[Al Shelton]

"Oh, Tiffany, yeah, so anyway, you really believe that I would get married on camel-back? Seriously," he asked leaning forward on the table. "I despise camels." Al shook his head. "They spit all the time, and they're not friendly at all." He had gotten bitten or something in the butt by a camel. Ever since then he didn't care for them. Of course he wasn't going into detail about that with June.

"Oh, Talon." Al grew quiet for a moment. He didn't like Talon and Al didn't care if June knew it. "You know that I'll come to your wedding whenever that may be. It wouldn't be a perfect wedding if I wasn't there." He gave a playful scoff and rolled his eyes.

[June Bankman]

"It seems just like the kind of untraditional shananigans that you would get involved in just for the sake of it. Or maybe I'm just living vicariously through you. Maybe that is something I would do."

She ran a hand through her hair and struck a pose for him. "Do you think I'd be a pretty bride, Al?" she asked, knowing that he had to say yes... or she would just hit him again. "Maybe I'll have you walk me down the isle."

[Al Shelton]

"It does sound like something you would do, but I'm giving you a heads up if you ever do want to get married on camel-back, they're mean!" Al gave her a conspiracy look before leaning back in his chair.

He gave a laugh as she struck a pose. "Of course you'd be a beautiful bride." Al wasn't just saying it because he knew he'd get hit. "Whatever fool you trick into marrying you will be one lucky guy." He smiled as his voice was completely honest. "And I would love to walk you down the isle. I would say I'd help you pick out a dress and all that stuff too, but I'm not really the best person for that job."

[June Bankman]

June laughed. "How do you know this? I feel like there's a camel story here that I haven't heard yet and the curiosity is killing me, Al."

Her head tilted. Most of the time, she Al as one of her best friends, even if she rarely got to see him. But other times, she saw him as something of a protector. He let her do whatever she wanted, but she rather imagined that he would want to fight off Talon- well, whoever she married, if it wasn't Talon.

"I'll need someone to help me pick out the dress, Al," she told him, and it struck her suddenly that she didn't really have that many friends. Before Virginia came into town, she had a lot of people she talked to, but no one really she could turn to. What was she doing with her life?

[Al Shelton]

"I don't believe you're going to be hearing that camel story for a while Juney. I'm not ready for never endless teasing." Al gave her a grin. "Although, I do promise to tell you on the night before your wedding, whenever that may be."

He strongly hoped that Talon wouldn't ask June to marry him. Al would do whatever he could to get June out of that marriage, even if that meant kidnapping her. There was no way he was going to let someone in his family marry a git like that. Al never liked Talon, but he didn't say much about June dating him. She was happy, so that was alright, however marriage would be pushing it.

"I mean, I could come with you to pick out a dress, but I'm not sure how well my opinion would really be. Oh, that reminds me, I need to kidnap you for a weekend and you go with me on a trip. Just the two of us. Talon can fend for himself for one weekend, right?"

[June Bankman]

"You're only tempting me to rush to get married quicker, holding that story out of reach like that," June playfully warned him. It was fun to talk about the day she would get married, and the ideas she had and the things she wanted, but she wasn't in a huge rush. She knew Talon wasn't ready to ask her, and she wasn't going to push him.

He took her from her thoughts again, mentioning a trip. She nodded. "I'm planning one with Talon as well, but as long as the dates don't coincide, then I'm sure he'll be fine for a weekend. Where were you planning on taking me?"

[Al Shelton]

"No, don't rush marriage," he said with a shake of his head. "If you get married soon, then that means I can't really see you all that much, because your husband would want me to stay away so that he could have you all to yourself." Al didn't want Talon to become part of the family, simply put.

"A trip with Talon? Well, I better not read your name in the paper for any reason other than for something like you found a hidden treasure or something like that." Al gave June a teasing look. "As for telling you where we're going, it wouldn't really be kidnapping if I told you that, now would it?"

[June Bankman]

"I'm not going to rush it. But you know... Talon and I have been dating for about seven years now... I wouldn't say no if he ever proposed." She gave Al a look, knowing fully well what Al thought of him. Honestly, Talon treated her well and he loved her, and that was all that mattered, right? Maybe deep down, she knew that it wasn't true, but she didn't have the courage to dig that deep.

"Don't worry, I don't think he'll ever ask me. If I find a hidden treasure, I will contact you immediately, how about that? And any hidden treasure where you're taking me?"