till death do us part -regulus black (the blacks, vol. 1)

chapter 19 - new year's 1976-1977, part 1

After a long period of convincing Regulus' parents to let them travel to New York to spend their New Year's there, Walburga gave in and talked with Orion to let the two lovebirds spend their New Year's with Eva's mother since the two attended the Black Christmas Ball.

'I can't believe your parents allow us to travel by plane,' Evangeline told Regulus as they were waiting for their plane to get boarded.

Regulus was quite anxious to travel with the muggle innovation, but having Evangeline there with him made him less and less nervous, her reassurance being enough for Regulus to get over any fear of the plane.

'Have you travelled with this before?' asked Regulus.

'Plenty of time, Reg,' Eva assured her boyfriend. 'I spent all my summers with my father's family at their home in Greece, and the winters in Montana with my mother's family. How do you think I got there? Muggles don't apparate or have portkeys or use floo powder.'

'Wait, you're Greek?' Regulus asked, shocked. 'You've never told me that before.'

'I don't talk much about my father nor my father's family,' the girl sighed.

'When was the last time you saw him, Ev?' Regulus asked.

'Probably two to three years ago,' Evangeline answered. 'Ever since he left my mother, I haven't seen him much. All I know is that he left with his girlfriend and they moved somewhere in London,' she explained.

'And since you've moved here, you've never tried reaching out to him?'

'I tried, plenty of times, but my mother always stopped me saying how it's such a waste of time and how my father never really cared about me,' Evangeline said in a sad tone.

There were no other words exchanged on the subject as the two lovebirds embarked on the plane to NYC. The whole plane ride, Regulus couldn't help but stare out the window, with Evangeline asleep, her head on his shoulder. He was fascinated by how tiny the world looked from up there. Surely, he had ridden a broom before, but this was a whole different experience.

'Eva,' Regulus said gently after they landed in New York. 'We've arrived.'

Eva slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the newfound light. For a second, she forgot where she was but seeing the airport out the window refreshed her memory.

The couple debarked the plane and Evangeline guided Regulus through the busy airport. Eva's mother was waiting for them just outside the gate seeing as they were both considered minors.

'Hey, you two!' Adalyn greeted her daughter and Regulus.

'Hi, mom!' Eva said.

'Hello, Adalyn,' Regulus greeted the woman.

The three walked to the luggage claim and Regulus took their bag, while the mother-daughter duo was chatting.

'How was London?' Adalyn asked her daughter.

'It was alright,' Eva replied drily.

'And how's living with Regulus' family?' the mother asked.

'It is okay, mom,' Eva told her mother, 'they've all been so nice to me.'

'How's Narcissa been lately? Did she send some more of that delicious wine?' Adalyn asked.

'Narcissa's well, pretty busy here and there. And she did send a bottle as a late Christmas gift. She feels sad that you didn't choose to come back to London for the holidays, but she understands.'

'Well, you know how it is at NYPD, especially around this time of the year,' Adalyn reasoned.

'Yeah, mom, trust me, I know,' Eva sighed.

The two women dropped the subject, and the three took a taxi to the apartment where Adalyn had moved in.

'Welcome to my humble abode,' Adalyn said as the three entered the apartment.

'It looks great, mom,' Eva said while looking around.

'You have a great eye for interior design, Adalyn,' Regulus complimented.

'Oh, Regulus, ever quite the gentleman,' Adalyn said. She walked the two teenagers to their bedroom. 'It's the bed from our old apartment, Eva. If there's something more you need, let me know.'

'We'll be fine, mom,' Eva said, looking around the room.

'Yes, Adalyn, but thank you,' Regulus told Adalyn, and the woman walked out of the room.

Evangeline sat down on the bed and kept looking around.

'She's been acting weird ever since we came here,' Evangeline said.

'Maybe you're just imagining it,' Regulus said.

'I know my mother, Reg,' Eva pointed out. 'There's something weird about her. She's so lively and careless.'

'Let's just lie down and take a nap,' Regulus advised.

Eva nodded her head and the two lay down and Regulus fell asleep immediately. Eva slipped out of Regulus' embrace and walked out of the room. She found her mother in the kitchen, having a cup of coffee.

'Hey,' she murmured.

'Hi, baby,' Adalyn told her daughter.

Evangeline took a seat at the bar stall and looked at her mother.

'Are you okay? You seem... glowy,' Evangeline told her mother.

'I feel fine,' Adalyn shook her head.

'Mom,' Eva raised her eyebrow, 'you're different.'

'I'm not,' Adalyn denied.

Evangeline scoffed and turned her head to the right, looking out the floor-length windows.

'You've missed it,' Adalyn pointed out.

'Of course,' Eva agreed. 'I grew up, admiring this view. I got calmed by this view. The nosiness and busyness.'

'It's not London, though,' Adalyn told her daughter. 'It doesn't have Regulus.'

'I would move back here, though,' Eva pointed out.

'And what does Regulus think of that?' Adalyn asked.

'His father is quite conservative, mom. It would take a lot of convincing. But Regulus said he would love to live here.

'You two always have a home here,' Adalyn said.

'And you with us,' Eva suggested.