Sand and Snow

"Steven," Khaat said. "You have a couple of choices here. You can either take the book to Gringotts and get it split into two accounts, or you can allow the money to accumulate in the account and specify with legal documents available through Gringotts that when they become whatever age you specify, or if anything happens to you, they are awarded the money in whatever percentage of a split you like. Or, you can specify that if anything happens to you, they would have an executor over the trust until they reach whatever age you specify.

"The fact is, you might not need the money, but you don't know if those are the only children you will ever have. If you end up, before you die, with another half a dozen children, do you still only want to split these bonus monies between Andrew and John? You need to give this careful thought."

"Khaat's right," Robert said. "Oh, and don't thank me, Cassidy. This is all Brian's doing."

"Its not necessary," Brian smiled. "Khaat and I live very comfortably. We just want to share. That's all."

Steven nodded and placed the book in his pocket "I go when i get the chance for now i will think on those options you told me, maybe your right, who knows maybe some one might be out there waiting for me" he and smiled to Khaat, Robert and Brian as he looked at Cassidy.

Cassidy looked at Robert then Brian. "its just, nobody ever gave me anything like this before, not with out wanting something in return" she said and smiled as she moved to the kitchen to grab a coffee for her self and Khaat along with a tea pot for Robert and coffee pot and cups on a tray for the others. she walked out and placed them down, "any one for some hot coffee?" she said now smiling a warm genuine smile.

"That sounds good to me," Khaat said, hoping the headache would be dulled a bit with some coffee. She moved to sit up, and Robert went over to her.

"Not without help. That fall should have killed you," he said firmly. "I expect you're going to have some new bruises by the end of the day."

"Oh, so what else is new?" she sighed as he helped her sit up. She groaned, finding she was getting stiff and sore already.

"If you think you're stoved up now, just wait til morning," he said dryly.

"You're such an optomist," she scowled at him. He took a cup of coffee for her and once he was sure she was comfortable he handed it to her. "Cassidy, we're all family here. I'm sorry you haven't had a chance to have people who give and not expect to receive in return, but that's just not the way we work. And besides, you do work for us. You are part of our bunch. This is just a gift. Just enjoy it."

Steven took his own cup and sat down behind cassidy in a large chair.

Cassidy smiled and nodded to Robert in thank you " I will , but for now it can stay where it is , i do have something i would like to get but I'm not up on the property market in the area" she said "I'd like to have my own flat "she asked " some place to go to when you don't need me , a place i can decorate the way I like , with a four poster bed, with an open fire and maybe a cat ,or two" she said smiling at them "its kinda something i have dreamed about for along time" she blushed a little "I have my family now, so now all I kneed is my place" she sighed and blew across her cup before drinking.

"Well, there are a lot of worthwhile areas to choose from in England. Sometimes the ministry hears word of places that are within the wizarding neighborhoods or communities, but since I don't know what you want, I really am not going to be much help to you right now," Khaat said.

"I can put my men on gathering some listings for you, but as Khaat said, we do need more information on what sort of a place you're looking for," Brian replied. "You'll need to decide some basics like whether you want to live in the inner city or in the country, or some sort of a somewhat smaller city. Do you want to be in a muggle neighborhood? DO you have any sort of specific things in mind besides a fireplace and the fact that you want the landlord to allow a pet? When you get your mind made up, if you decide you want some help, you'll have to give us more to go on."

"Brian, I don't mean to change subjects, but is it worthwhile to consider laying in wait in that tunnel and then ambushing Gelding?" Khaat asked.

"No," Michael said quickly. "That won't work. Well, I doubt that it would work. Men like Gelding and Burke don't get their hands dirty. You'get get flunkies at best, and those sort of men are a dime a dozen. No, you're better off to let them dig their way up the the bloody Artic Circle if they're that stupid."

Cassidy nodded and sat back Khaat had given her something to think about "well has to be something in the magic community if I'm aperating in and out and yeah he has to accept pets, and i think in town maybe Hogwarts there so much there and i can get what i need very quickly " she stopped hearing Brian speak and sighed smiling to her self.

Steven sighed and yawned covering his mouth be fore any one saw it , at the mention of the lackeys he nodded "yeah from what i have been told there quite the delegates where works concerned " he said chuckling "nope I don't think there with in a mile of that place " he sat back and finished his coffee.

"You mean Hogsmeade? I don't think the school has ever had housing for anyone other than staff," Khaat said to Cassidy.

She was about to speak to Steven, when she heard the distinctive sound of apparating. That alerted her. She jumped. "Relax," Angus said. "Sorry. I sent to Sparks for lunch for everyone. Thought we deserved a treat. I hope you're all hungry."

Angus had bought 4 large pizzas with a wide variety of toppings, so that everyone could have their choice.

"How many people are you feeding?" Brian frowned.

"Hey, I don't mind cold pizza as a snack It won't bother me whatsoever," Angus said. He went out in the kitchen, brought in the pizzas, plates, napkins, pizza spatulas and bottles of icy cold soda to go with the pizzas. "Besides that, this is a different pizza recipe, and Lizzie is using us for test kitchen guinea pigs. So, eat up. She's playing around with her spring menu."

Robert fixed a plate for himself and one for Khaat. Robert chose a couple of slices of Hawaiian pizza, and selected pizza with mushrooms, onion, and green peppers for Khaat. They noticed instantly that the pizza sauce was much improved and that somewhere Lizzie had found freshly made mozzarella cheese. It was delicious.

Cassidy blushed at her mistake "ow yeah Hogsmeade , I get confused buy the names " she said on hearing aperating she quickly stood wand in hand till Angus brought in and placed them down picking up a plate she took two slices of a meat feast built it was different , much tastier than she had had before and she sighed " hum this taste's great" she said finding meat she hadn;t even seen before but now she was eating and loving it .

Steven watched Cassidy stand with her wand ready, but he could smell the pizza and smiled when he could he took three slices of the three cheeses , mozzarella, Cheddar and red Lester . Taking a bite he could not help the string of cheese that came from his mouth to the pizza

"Tell Lizzie to keep it," Khaat said. "They're wonderful. I really like the marinara sauce she's using."

"She's been working on it for awhile," Angus said. "She wanted to surprise you."

"She did. Its wonderful," Khaat smiled.

"Speaking of surprises," Robert said, "Did you forget, Khaat that your mother's birthday is coming up in a couple days?"

"Oh! Jeesh! How on earth could I forget!" she was appauled at forgetting.

"Not to worry," He laughed. "I've almost forgotten myself from time to time. Got any ideas what we should do to celebrate?"

"Either dinner out, or I should cook--and let our friends and family come."

"You," Michael frowned at Khaat, "are not going to be up to cooking. How about you let me into your kitchen that night and I'll do the cooking and recruit Angus as my sous chef?"

"Really?" Robert frowned. "You'd cook?"

"Michael could easily be a five star chef," Khaat smiled. "Its quite a treat when he cooks. Alright, you're on, Michael. My kitchen is your kitchen."

"I'm looking forward to this. The last time you cooked when I was around was that camping trip we went on and you did the cooking," Brian said.

"Oh, this will be world's better than that cowboy cuisine," Michael laughed.

Cassidy looked up and chuckled "I could waitress? " she said smiling at them "hey I'm not just a pretty face I can do other things too." she said wondering if they would let her she wanted to do something nice.

Steven smiled and looked at Michael "hey I like cowboy cuisine" he said folding his arms over his chest as he watched all of them talk, feeling part of a bigger family. Sitting back he felt full from the pizza he'd eaten " you can definitely tell Liz to keep the pizza, kids would love it " he said folding his arms behind his back.