All the Comforts of Home

Brian had been up all night. He had dozed off in front of the fire in the living room after Chase and Angus had gone to bed and had been awakened by an owl arriving from Paris. In a fury, he had crumpled the message with its foul news into the fireplace, letting the dying fire consume the parchment. That was the end of any thoughts he'd had of sleep.

He'd apparated to the Lupin farm and rousted Robert out of bed. The plan had taken about ten minutes to decide upon and about another fifteen to flesh out the details with Robert. Brian had come home to give Robert time. And to get the house ready.

Then at 5 am, precisely, he apparated to St. Mungos, meeting Robert there in his office. He had brought a canvas messenger bag that contained clothing in it for Khaat. Robert passed to Brian a number of bottles of potions and other things for her care, including very detailed written care instructions and a food plan to get her out of her dangerously thin state.

The two went to Khaat's room and had awakened her. She had been in a deep sleep and it had taken a bit. They'd helped her change quickly into the long gown in vanilla colored flannel. It was trimmed with lace, seed pearls, and vanilla ribbons. Brian had brought her a thick flannel wrap style robe in a soft pink color. He had thought the pink would add some color to her face and make her a bit less self conscious. He had brought her warmest boots and her long black suede coat to make sure she didn't chill in the bitter night winds.

She hadn't understood why he was moving her in the cover of darkness and she hadn't asked. Robert had taken her face in his hands and had kissed her lovingly, taking the time to reassure her that all was well and that Eli would not be neglected for one moment. He promised he would be coming to check on her often and would update her about everything. He was sending her home.

Brian apparated back into the silent living room, carrying Khaat, her face turned into his chest to shield her face from the icy air in the apparating. "You're home," he said to her very softly. "It's alright. Let me get you up to bed, Babe."

"No, please? Can I just...see? I need to see that I'm really home," she told him, laying her head on his chest and looking around at all the Christmas lights and at the fire--the only light in the living room.

Chase had woken up early to the sounds of Abbey whimpering in bed. She hadn't really been paying attention as she took Abbey downstairs tiredly, getting her some warm milk in a bottle, so that she would be able to go to sleep faster. It was really early anyway. Chase looked confused when suddenly Brian had jumped up, and left the house quickly. She hadn't realized he was still in the chair by the sofa, they had all been up late talking last night, and she had thought he had gone to sleep. But obviously not. Chase, after checking the warmth of the bottle, gave it to Abbey, and looked around confused for a moment. Brian was gone maybe half an hour, and in that time Chase had moved to the front room, cradling Abbey in her lap, who was slowly falling asleep, when suddenly she heard him enter again.

Chase sat up slowly, making sure she didn't disturb Abbey, who was so near sleeping, her eyes kept closing, but if Chase moved she made a little noise and opened them back up again. Chase sat up and Abbey made a noise, but Chase put her finger to her lips and glanced over the edge of the sofa. The fire was still burning so she was able to clearly see the faces of Brian and Khaat. "Khaat!" Chase breathed and stood up, adjusting Abbey, who had started to squirm at the site of her mum. "What are you doing home? And why so early?" She asked, and Abbey calmed down, still sipping on her bottle, staring at her mom with wide eyes. "Abbey woke up early.. I was just getting her some milk so she'd go to sleep.. but.. I didn't expect.. why so early?" She asked carefully, walking towards Khaat, as Abbey held her arms out for her mom, wanting to be held by her, for she hadn't seen her in a long time.

"Hold on," Brian smiled at Chase and Abbey. "I'll explain. Khaat doesn't know either. I'm afraid we uprooted her from a very sound sleep." He laid Khaat down on the sofa and helped her off with her boots and her coat. He had had to enlarge the boots to fit over her broken ankles and magically fit them over her feet and then reverse the process at home. Still, it had been better than being barefoot in December. He flicked his fingers at the coat and boots and they floated to the closet to put themselves away. He made sure she was comfortable with a pillow and a blanket before turning to Chase.

"May I?" he took Abbey from her, smiling at Abbey, "And why on earth are you awake so early, Pee Wee?" He talked to Abbey, who babbled at him excitedly. Brian laughed at her. "Here. Come see Mama." He handed Abbey to Khaat, who wrapped Abbey close to her.

"Why am I here, Brian?" Khaat asked sleepily. "What's the problem?"

"Well, I was avoiding a security breech," he said gently. "I got an owl during the night. From Paris."

"Paris?" Khaat frowned. It took her a moment. She groaned as it added up with her. "Luther Burke, right? He's found out his employee has been caught."

"Indeed."

"And he's on the move."

"Right. He won't be looking for Eli, Khaat. He'll be looking strictly for you now. Robert has inconvenienced him--for the umpteenth time."

"He doesn't give a rat's anymore, does he? Neither does Gelding. They want me because they're tired of how he's ruining their illegal operations. And they want Barker back."

"They do."

"My father isn't going to give him to them, is he?"

"Certainly not! Why else would I have moved you so quickly? Khaat, its all good." He looked at Chase. "Sorry, I didnt have any way of letting anyone know. I had no choice. But its alright now. Truly."

Chase listened to them. Luther Burke.. the man that Barker had been working for... probably was STILL working for. And he wanted Barker back.. and he wanted Khaat. "Well Khaat... I guess we'll just have to sit here and laugh then." She said with a grin. "He won't be getting you, not while we're around.." She said smiling. "And while I'm here.. you won't want for a thing alright? I'll take care of everything for you.. we'll get you back to how you were before he took you the first time okay?" She said and smiled at the two. "We don't need to worry about Burke right? I mean.. Khaat is safe here, so I think we should start making this house merry.." She said with a grin at the two. "We'll play Christmas music.. and.. go Christmas Shopping.. we'll.. be a family.."

Chase looked at the small family in front of her at that moment. Khaat, still hurt and recovering, holding onto Abbey, Brian, handsome and strong, standing next to her. And Chase.. who was slightly off to the side of them, knowing that she wasn't technically apart of this family, no matter how much she wanted to be. Not only did she look completely different, but she had decided, that she would become part of the family, if Elijah wanted her to. That is.. if he wanted to marry her.. well that was up to him. She didn't know what was going on in his head, and she only hoped that one day, she would actually be part of this family, not just mentally, but legally too.

Khaat had started to get warm again as they talked, and that was making sleep hammer at her brain again. Abbey seemed comforted by both the beautiful Christmas lights and by being in Khaat's arms. The tiny girl curled into her, laid her head down on Khaat's chest and closed her eyes, cudddling into her mother.

"Chase," Khaat smiled, "That's the best strategy for dealing with them I've heard in a long time. And since Brian takes his job so seriously, all is well." She started to slip into sleep and then woke again, well, sort of. "You know, you're already part of the family. You really don't have to work at it. You just have to accept it. That's all it takes. It really is that easy." She slipped back into sleep again.

Brian looked at Chase. "That, my dear, is the look of trust. It means she is relieved and feels safe here with us. I'm just going to let her sleep. I'll take her up to her room later this morning. It looks like Abbey has decided to stay with Mom for awhile. And that? Well, that's just a nice, full tummy. Thank you. That helped for Khaat to be able to see Abbey right away--that was all that relief we just saw. That was the best thing that could have happened today. I was about ready to take the risk to take Abbey to her, but this is so much better for both of them. How'd you get out of having to feed Dakota too? They're usually on about the same schedule. You either have a magic touch or you were just plain lucky." He laughed. "Oh, don't let me forget. Robert prepared all Khaat's care instructions and wrote them out and sent a whole bag of supplies. I'll go over them with you at a more humane hour. Robert would not have begun to even consider releasing her yet if there really was another choice. So, we still need to deal with that. And i am quite positive Robert will be in and out.

"You're welcome to go back to bed if you like I'll be up now. And Angus should be up any minute. It really is very early." At that moment, he heard the distinct sounds of Dakota waking and fussing, but it only lasted a moment. Brian frowned. That was definately not the character of the little redhead. He started to take some rather quick steps towards going upstairs when he heard Angus's voice. He was talking to somene as he approached. An instant later, he walked into the room, carrying Dakota, who had stopped her fussing and was giggling. Angus was tickling her gently, and the fussing had stopped.

"So that's why the fussing stopped," Brian said in a hushed tone so he didn't wake Khaat, visibly relieved.

"You worry..." Angus began.

"Shh," Brian hushed him, pointing to Khaat on the sofa. Angus's frown became deep and severe. He walked over to Brian.

"What the hell..." he began.

"New from Paris during the night. Gelding and Burke are moving again."

"Retaliation," Angus sighed. "Does Robert know?'

"Of course. I'm sure he'll be around sometime this morning."

"She looks like hell," Angus sighed.

"She looks better than she did a couple days ago. Much. I'm letting her sleep for now, and I'll help her upstairs later."

"She may well be better off with her family for now than to be shut up alone in her room anywa," Angus said. "It would be healthier for her. Alright. Chase, can I ask you to please feed Dakota while I go take care of the stables? I'll make some fresh coffee and tea before I go outside."


"