France had been beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. She had been gone for about three weeks, enjoying the sights with her cousin. Rose had been going through a rough patch as well, and had tracked her down after the anniversary party gone sour, and the two had reconnected. It had been Rose's crazy idea for them to go on holiday, and Dom hadn't been convinced until Rose showed up with the gold to afford the trip. Promises and kissies smothered Declan until he admitted that she could probably use the time on her own, and soon the girls were magically expanding their suitcases and clearing out their closets.
It was perfect. Their time was split between beautiful bistros, bright beaches, and bumping bars. Rose seemed to be on a mission to expand her horizons, once dragging Dom to a nude beach, and disappearing with a few cute men now and again. Their little villa, borrowed from a friend of Rose's, was ridiculously quaint and Dom had even rented a bicycle to get around.
It felt magical.
Until she had run into Nico.
It was about halfway through when she looked across the swimming pool at the club they had taken to, and seen her friend Nico pressing a kiss on a woman who then hurried off to the bistro. Their eyes had met and they decided to cross the distance and greet each other.
Coffee with Nico was strange. He was doing well, according to him. Brigitte was a fashion journalist, but very hardworking and incredibly classy. He was madly in love with her, and she loved him deeply too. He had a good few mates, and was working in the French Ministry, and was feeling better than ever.
She didn't share much. She couldn't. She kept it to her trip, to the fact that she was seeing someone, that she was... happy.
The conversation just fizzled.
She felt strange after that. She struggled to engage as she had before, and Rose could sense it. As their holiday began to approach it's final days, she found herself not just missing Declan, but needing him.
"Come on, Dom, stay. It's one more day."
Dom snapped the suitcase shut and stood up, looking at Rose, who was lounging on one of the chic couches, a passed out French men resting his cheek on her knee as she stroked his hair. Dom smirked. "He looks like your cat."
"Dom," Rose warned.
"I just want to surprise him," Dom said lifting a shoulder, smiling.
Rose huffed out a sigh, rolling her eyes. "You're really going to leave me with him?"
Dom smirked. "Maybe you can declaw him."
"Shut up," Rose quipped. "Well, you better make it worth it."
Dom grinned. "I will."
She didn't even drop off her suitcases. She dragged it along with her after apparating and composed herself outside of the door. She had put on a dress, hoping to make the sight a little special, a little exciting. She felt her heart pounding and she wasn't sure why. She knocked three times and rocked back on her heels, biting her bottom lip and trying to shake the nerves from her shoulders with an excited shiver.
