stay (toby)

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

Mid August 2029

Time passed strangely, Amy thought. It had been nearly 9 months since her life had changed drastically. Most of the time, Amy had warred with herself on how it would have been so much better if she'd never been bitten. But if she'd never been bitten, she would never have learned self control. Structure. Her life had changed, certainly. She was no longer the carefree young woman who had come to Scotland on a whim to learn more about her older sister. She'd grown, she'd fallen in love, and she'd learned more than she'd bargained for.

Amy was spending her summer with her sister Alora in London, since it was closer to her friends and further from their controlling mother. Amy hadn't expected her mom to come to the UK, much less essentially keep her captive and try to bring her back to LA. Amy had refused vehemently, much to her own shock. She had grown to enjoy Britain, for all its beautiful flaws. Mainly, she didn't want to leave Alora, who had never wavered, never stuttered in her unending support for her sister. She had been there when she was bitten. She had been there when Amy broke her own heart. She had been there to always pick up the pieces.

As of late, her thoughtless heart was slowly mending. Her relationship with Toby was nowhere near where it had been before the bite. They had a lot of trust to rebuild, on both sides. But even when Amy had been afraid at first, she yearned for his company. She didn't remember much when she turned into a wolf, even with her Aware Wolf doses, but she knew there was some invisible string tying them together. They'd met up quite a few times over the summer in an effort to mend their relationship, but Amy thought it was being forged into something new. Something different. Maybe something even stronger. She'd messaged Toby asking if he wanted to get some sweets and go window shopping in Diagon Alley - a favourite pastime of hers since living in London this summer. All she had to do was wait.

tobias charles watkins

[tobias charles watkins]

The sweltering summer days drew on slowly, while Toby eagerly awaited for autumn to approach. Whenever school started back up it was easy to envelope himself in his studies, school was the best antidote to boredom and love woes. Every day he diligently worked toward his mastery of magizoology but it wasn’t enough. There weren’t enough creatures on earth to keep Toby from overthinking his relationship with Amy.

Things with Amy were turbulent. As time slowly slipped further away it was becoming harder to remember the love they once had for each other. It pained him to think about it for too long. There were too many ‘why’s and ‘what ifs’ swirling around his min, even nine months later. Toby knew they still had something special. It seemed they were both in a dark place that needed more healing, time, and understanding.

Toby was still hurting wondering why Amy would subject herself to the bite of a werewolf. In some ways, he blamed himself for not explaining the severity of a wolf bite. Regardless, one thing he knew was his love for Amy was true. The bond and chemistry between them was still there. He ached for her every day. So when he got the text message from Amy that morning to meet up for sweets and a walk through Diagon Alley, he obliged. Toby apparated to Diagon Alley and after a short walk to their designated meeting spot, he found her with his nose before his eyes. He could smell her. The sensation made the hairs stand at the back of his neck, mouth watering rather deliciously.There was a static in the air as he got closer to her.

”Hi Amy” he greeted with a kind smile. Every fiber of his being yearned to reach out and wrap her scent around him…but images of her flinching away from him flickered in his memory. He didn’t want to endure that rejection again. Toby hovered to her to keep the invitation open, feeling awkward due to not knowing to do with himself. ”I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long...” he stated, mouth going dry as his stomach flipped upside down. ”You look nice-like you’re doing well.” Toby stammered, face going red hot, realizing he was already overthinking their encounter. 

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

Amy's hands were slick with nervous sweat as she waited for Toby to turn up at the sweet shop. She'd lived in London with Alora long enough to know that most of the muggle candy shops on the high streets were just fronts for the mafia (intriguing, but ultimately not worth the investigation), but Alderton's was the real deal. Much like Honeydukes. Though Amy was convinced that time healed all wounds, she wondered how much time she would need before things would go back to normal with Toby. She craved him, his proximity and his nervous chatter, his kind smile and warm embraces. But in her dreams, he tore her flesh apart.

Sighing deeply, Amy pushed away the memory of her nightmares. Maybe she'd visit Slug and Jiggers and get dreamless sleep along with her dose of aware wolf. She looked up, and there he was. Amy's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help the faint smile that crossed her face. In the heat of the day, he was a frozen margarita. Hmm... she licked her lips at the thought. Maybe a drink afterwards. Amy moved without thought, wrapping her arms around Toby's middle and inhaling deeply. His scent comforted her in an animalistic sort of way, though she often battled between her heart and mind.

"No, you didn't" Amy replied, stepping back. She wanted to stay close to him, to touch him at all times, but her own nightmares and the look on Toby's face when he'd warned her not to visit and she'd not listened... Amy swallowed. Nine months, and they couldn't talk through it completely without getting upset. It was so much easier to just avoid it. "I am doing better now I'm with you," said Amy, tilting her head slightly. "You look sunburnt. Have you spent too much time in the sun with the kneazles again?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

After a moment, Amy turned and entered the sweet shop, trying not to overthink the electricity that hummed between them. She'd started noticing it a few months after he'd bitten her - every time they were together, the air was charged with a strange sort of magic. Amy's eyes went wide at the selection of sweets - cases of Droobles, mountains of fizzing whizbees, and great displays of splendid chocolates were just the first things she saw. "I wonder what a blood lolly tastes like," she mused aloud. "Do they make dog treats? Would we like them?"

tobias charles watkins

[tobias charles watkins]

Tobys bashful smile widened as Amy stated that she was doing better now that he arrived, following by pointing out his burned nose. ”Guilty… he chuckled as he grazed his nose with his finger, ”Misplaced my sun cream…” he smiled, eyes watching her carefully with growing adoration as he drank in her smile. His heart always grew three times sizes anytime he was near Amy. Today she looked happy and comfortable. It was always a good sign when she approached him for an embrace. Toby enveloped Amy in his arms warmly, offering her a gentle squeeze as he enjoyed her familiar scent; temporary paradise in his arms. He didn’t release first because he wanted to relish in the moment. They briskly entered the sweet shop where he was hit with a whiff of assorted sweets. Everything was fabulously merchandised to the ceiling.

Cocking his head to the side he considered Amy’s thought out loud. ”Have you ever bitten your tongue?” he asked playfully to match her curiosity, ”That’s how it tastes..trust me.” he confirmed whole heartedly, scrunching his nose with a hint of disgust. Toby stared suspiciously at the lolly. Back in his sixth year at Hogwarts he regrettably tried a blood lolly with his vampire mate Zen in fear of being rude...and maybe a little for 'science'. Truthfully at time he was very curious to what it tasted like but never once considered it again until Amy mentioned it. Only to see Amy's disgusted reaction to most vampires favorite treat.

Toby reached for a fudge bar, eyebrows creasing downwards with a deep sigh, ”-It’s just a shame we can’t have chocolate anymore..” he stated in a sad tone, eyes softening into a look of disappointment on his face as he looked at her more seriously. Sometimes Amy was gullible, he hoped this would be one of those times. Because everyone knew canines couldn't have chocolate, right?

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

For a moment, it felt like nothing had changed between them. But then the air between Amy and Toby became charged by their proximity as she held him, inhaling deeply to remind herself of his unique and intoxicating scent. Amy stepped back, against her hearts wishes but needing space to sort out her mind. She squinted up at his slightly ruddy complexion, accurately deducing that he'd forgotten sunscreen when out with the kneazles. "Even if healers can get rid of cancer, you should still take better care to remember!" said Amy, swatting at Toby's side. It had been like this for months. Looking for excuses to touch him, but living in terror of her nightmares and the disappointment that still lingered between them.

The pair wandered around the sweet shop, and Amy idly wondered what blood lollies tasted like. She turned, giving Toby an incredulous look. "Yes... but do you know from experience? Have you got a vampiric streak I don't know about?" asked Amy. She swiftly moved on, not wanting to linger on that disturbing thought. They approached a display of whimsical fudges, and Toby's expression dropped. Amy opened her mouth to immediately enquire why he looked so sad.

Gasping dramatically, Amy's hands flew up to her mouth. Terror was evident in her eyes. "Fuck. No. Really??" she asked, her eyes darting between the fudge display and Toby's forlorn expression. "I've been eating chocolate... it helps me feel better. I forgot dogs can't have it!!!! I must have been slowly poisoning myself. Quick, get me something to make myself sick," said Amy, looking around wildly. Would the taste of blood make her sick? Or cockroach clusters perhaps? No, those had chocolate too! She was going to die, surely. "Tell my sister I love her. And you, Toby. I can feel death coming for me," she added, clutching her belly.

tobias charles watkins

[tobias charles watkins]

The pair naturally slipped into a comforting familiarity. Being with Amy was always been easy. She had a way with silencing all of his worries. He missed having her around all the time, sleeping and waking up next to her, but things were different now. Toby was grateful to have any sort of relationship with Amy at this point because he was still deeply in love with her. The love between them had only changed. He tried not to think about that too much. Tucking the blood lollies back into their home neatly, ”I assure you trying blood lollies was solely for experimental purposes.” he shared, knowing she was grossed out already by the look on her face and willingness to move on from the subject. 

Toby should have expected what was next to come, but a part of him didn’t think she’d believe him so effortlessly. After nodding in false confirmation, Amy’s eyes widened into a panic, admitting she’d been indulging in chocolate frequently. She scurried around the shelves, searching for something to make her vomit. Toby turned away to chuckle to himself and to reach for a mysterious package of candy. ”Puking Pastilles will do the job, I reckon…” Toby nonchalantly offered, presenting the nasty treat in a grand gesture. Puking Pastilles weren’t a sweet he ever tried, nor did he really want to. He wasn’t actively looking to puke, or prank his mates with food. Some of the candy selection available at Honeydukes was downright diabolical.

Toby placed a gentle hand on Amy’s shoulder before she could ingest any of the puking treats, ”But also…I’m only kidding. Chocolate is fine to eat.” Toby assured her with a slow spreading smile, feeling a bit sorry for stirring up such a panic. His eyes softened on her, wishing that he could kiss her. ”I love you.. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.” his lips twitched into a cheeky smile before quickly teasing, ”Blimey. I wish you could’ve seen your face…”

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

Today felt a bit easier than the other days. Amy's natural instinct was to be as close to Toby as possible, to fold herself up and insert herself into his pocket if it was at all feasible. But while her mind battled her heart, she maintained some distance - most of the time. She had noticed that since becoming a werewolf, she was infinitely more tactile. Amy stuffed her hands into her pockets, rubbing her fingertips together to lessen the tension. Toby explained that he had only tried blood lollies for experimentation. She frowned at him, bemused. "Oooookay..." said Amy tentatively, before spiraling into despair about eating chocolate.

Thankfully, Toby had a solution to her poisoning problem, and he handed her a packet of purple sweets. "Thank you," she said eagerly, turning to pay. She'd rather be sick than dead! But Toby gripped her shoulder, turning her back to him. His eyes glinted with mirth, and he looked rather pleased with himself. She blinked, once, twice. "So... I'm not poisoned?" she asked meekly, her eyes wide as she stared up at him. The slowly spreading smile affirmed what he was saying, that she was not in any danger of death by chocolate.

"Oh, thank Merlin," she exclaimed, slapping a hand over her heart. Amy straightened, and her brow furrowed. She playfully punched Toby in the side. "You nearly gave me a heart attack! That was rude," she said, trying to ignore the tingling sensation that was spreading throughout her body at his next admission. She narrowed her eyes slightly, fighting a grin herself. "Yes, yes. I imagine it was very funny to see me flapping about like a diricawl," she replied with a flippant hand wave. "So, what about humans, how muhc chocolate can we eat before we die?"

tobias charles watkins

[tobias charles watkins]

Today Toby felt as ease by Amy’s presence. There was a magnetic pull drawing him closer to Amy, wishing he could grab her by the waist and kiss her lovingly without any second thoughts. Toby knew better than to succumb to those feelings if he didn't want things to get awkward. Anytime he got too close to Amy these days, there were alarms reminding him to slow down… Reminding himself that he didn’t want to give Amy too many unsolicited touches - if he didn’t want things to get awkward or spook her.

Toby watched the hilarious display as Amy pranced around the shop in a panic. He almost feeling guilty for causing her so much stress... His cheeks went red as his eyes creased with mirth, finally opening his mouth to answer her. ”No, you’re not poisoned.” he smiled slowly, cocking his head to the side. ”-You look cute when you’re panicked…” he teased playfully, nodding his head with a confirming nod, quite pleased with himself. Toby bit his bottom lip, scrunching his nose. ”I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist myself..” he laughed, offering her a quick side hug.

”Drinks are on me to make up for torturing you..” he offered with an adoring smile, unsure if his beloved girlfriend would even take the offer.

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW