It was a relief to know the time that settled between them hadn't greatly impacted their friendship. His was the one relationship she counted on - the single opinion she valued most. Perhaps that was why she hadn't informed him of Edmund's existence. The stoic man was a far cry from the man she envisioned spending the rest of her life with, and Percy would surely notice. Edmund was an emotionless statue, better suited for his role as a dreary ministry employee than as a husband. If not for her parents' insistence that she wed Maggie would've been content to remain waiting eternally. But, she had obligations and she had to settle for less than she deserved.

"It's okay. We always knew life would change after school." She shrugged. Maggie wished she could go back to that girl and force her to commit every moment to memory. To shove her feelings for Percy into the air between them while she still had the opportunity. "How is it working at the ministry? You must have stories for me." She gestured for him to sit opposite her before settling on one of the chairs.

---