Snowflakes and Shopping Bags

Khaat had gotten up rather early, unable to sleep for some odd reason. She'd gotten up before light, letting Brian sleep. The girls were fast asleep and the house was quiet. Even Angus seemed to be relatively deep in sleep. He'd left his door ajar, and Khaat had seen he seemed to be far away from the wizarding world at the moment.

She went downstairs, wrapped in a vanilla velvet robe that Brian had bought for her, and made coffee. The robe reminded her that he had firmly told her that the bigger house could, from time to time, get drafty when the weather got cold. And it was cold this morning.

She'd taken a couple of cups and a carafe of coffee back upstairs and had curled up on the sofa, looking out across the estate, just soaking up the silence. She saw that, just before daylight, it started to snow. The first snowflakes of the season. It was silent and beautiful.

Brian stirred at daylight and got up and came over to her. She began to hear sounds of Angus's waking and rising from his room as well. "So, what's got you up so early?" Brian asked, filling the other mug with coffee. He kissed her cheek.

"I have no idea," she smiled at him.

"I have a gift for you to wear today when you go out. Your cloak is not going to be enough." He went to his closet and produced a black suede coat with fur trim. The coat went clear to the ground and had a full hood. "For you. I want you to have better winter clothes."

"Brian! Its beautiful," she said. She got up and tried it on. It was a perfect fit.

"You'll find new black suede gloves and boots in your closet," he smiled.

"You're the best," she said, kissing him.

"Go get dressed. I'll check on the girls."

She chose a pair of well fitting brown slacks and a beige v necked cashmere sweater. She found the black suede boots and finished dressing. By then she smelled breakfast. Eggs, toast, bacon. It smelled good. Brian clearly had the girls up. She could hear them chattering at him happily as he carried them downstairs.

She tucked her wand in her boot and Brian's credit card in her pocket and picked up her coat and gloves and went downstairs.

"You're just in time. Breakfast is ready," Brian said. "And I expect Jess and Ronata here any minute."

"Then I don't have time to eat."

"Of course you do. Sit. There's plenty. And if they're not hungry, they really will wait for you."

jess walked in the main doors with ronata both talked about what they were looking for today , jess was loking for decorations and ronata was doing the same with some clothes shoping both for her self and steven they both smiled seeing Khaat .

Jess whitrched "nice jacket Khaat , one guess, Brian ?" she asked smiling at her as she ran over the fur collar with her hand .

Ronata nodded and smiled "nice that will keep you warm in the winter " she said feeling how thick the fabirc was to her fingers "ok we all redy yet?" she asked loking at jess and Khaat .

"Thank you. And yes. Brian said I need better winter clothes. I think we are ready," Khaat smiled. She laid down her fork and took one more drink of her coffee. "Marvelous breakfast, Angus. Thank you."

"You're very welcome," Angus smiled, putting on his black leather duster coat. He picked up Khaat's coat. "Your coat, Milady?"

"Yes, please," Khaat said, smiling. She put the new coat on and fastened it shut. Brian handed her her new black suede gloves.

"You," he looked into her eyes, "bring back some more warm winter clothes for yourself. You do need warmer clothes. Winter clothes that fit. Do not come home without them. You two hear me, Jess and Ronata? What she has is not warm enough and its too big. Outfit her for cold weather and the fact that this house can sometimes get a bit drafty as big as it is. Don't let her come home with just Christmas decorations. Understand? I don't care what it costs if she's warm enough."

jess loked at Ronata nad then at Brian "yes sir thats what were doing any way so sure " she said and chuckled "come on all those shops to get threw and so little time to do it " she said and grinned as she moved to stand beside Khaat "ok lets go " she said and waitied till ronata was close by she took ehr hand and aperated to the alley where she waited for khaat to arrive.

Khaat apparated to Diagon Alley and found she was actually a shop down from where Jess and Ronata had landed. She walked over to them. The shops were brightly decorated for the holidays and it was always a look Khaat enjoyed seeing year after year. Put her in the mood for the holidays.

"Well, where should we start?" she asked. "Since we came for Christmas decorations, should we start there? I know I want a lot of lights and bright colors, and I'm hoping the shop gives me ideas from there. I don't know if the girls will notice much except maybe lights this year. Jess, you said you're doing fruit this year. Ronata, what are you using for your decorating theme?"

jess nodded and smiled a she listened to Khaat "yeap lovley autum fruit " she loked at Ronata and sighed wating to hea what she ahd to do .

Ronata though for a moment " nope winging it this year, i think lights roof decorations and a tree that should do it for me and steven" she said smiling "its more winter clothing im after" she said loking at the shop Khaat indicated and nodded "looks intresting from the window dressing " she said jess looked aswell and smiled .

"thats the place i mentioned its beautiful inside" she said grinning .

Khaat was delighted by the sights and smells and sounds of the Christmas shop. Christmas carols played from an enchanted music box, and the light and tinkling notes filled the store. The smell of Christmas spices were lovely, and the way the light played off the beautiful ornaments no matter where she looked, well, it all was breathtaking.

"Jess, you were right," Khaat smiled. "It's everything I imagined and more." She began walking slowly through the store, trying to take it all in. It took her right back to feeling like a little girl again. "There is something beyond my imagination when the magic of Christmas combines with the magic of the wizarding world. This is how I'd like Abbey's world to be all the time. This is wonderful."

She began fingering a garland on one of the decorated trees. The garland looked like an endless strand of pearls. The ornaments were spectular. She was completely taken with it. "I might have to do something like this," she said softly, imagining it on a huge tree that would perhaps just brush the top of the living room's tall vaulted ceiling.

Jess smiled as she walked in "wow hes out done it this year this is his best show yet" she said ass a tall thin man walked over to them.

"wecole to my store ladies , jess good to see you again are these the ladies you spoke of "he asked and she smiled "yes they are " jess said "Khaat Ronata this is simon jones he owns this store " she said and smiled "O havew known him for as long as I have been coming here.

he mobved to Ronata nd took her hand "pleasure "he then smiled at Khaat taking ehr hand "chose whaT YOU WISH i will take care of it all for you and have it delivered , you might want to take alook in out new winter clothing colection department " he said and walked back to Jess "tel jack he ows me a spiced tea jess " he said and grinned .

"don't worry he's bringing it later tonight " she said and chuckled as she looked back at the girls "come on "

"It's a pleasure, Mr. Jones," Khaat smiled as she shook hands with Jones. "You look like you very well may have everything I require. Especially if you have some very tall trees. Oh, Angus, I didn't measure how tall I needed for the living room!"

"I did," Angus laughed. "Relax. 16 feet, Mr. Jones."

"And I will want a number of other trees for other rooms in my house. I made a list." Angus took the list from her, double checked it and handed it to Jones.

"You'll see she's also added a request for all the garland she needs as well as a number of evergreen wreaths. We're...in a new house this year, so we're starting from scratch. Go ahead, Khaat. I'll catch up."

Khaat followed Jess and Ronata through the store. She wanted to get a good look around before she started selecting ornaments. "I wonder if I should jsut get about five of everything?" she laughed.

Simon handed the list to one of his assistants "she will gather everything and send it to your house , and I quite understand " he said and smiled as they moved further into the store he headed back to his office smiling as always.

"wow , five of each?" jess asked and walked ahead loking at the wreaths and stuff all around her till she saw the one that was just right and smiled "that one " she pointed to one made up with autum leaves and fruits along with wreathes and table settiung to she smiled and gathered all she could then stoped loking at both khaat and Ronata "well it is what were here for " she said smiling.