Finding Femininity

"Actually," He said. "I used a pomegranate juice and a bit of lime.' He put the scones and the casserole in the oven. "Let's go up to her closet." He took Cassidy up to Khaat's closet and opened the door and turned on the lights. "Go ahead and look. There are very few pieces that she has any sentimental attachment to. See what you think."

After breakfast, Khaat dressed in jeans and a tank top and a plain denim shirt with the sleeves rolled up. She put on a pair of running shoes. "Too casual?" she asked.

"For a fishing village?" he frowned. "No. Come on." He apparated her to Tuscany right to the alley next to the shop. He took her inside, and she took him to the beautiful long white dresses she had fallen in love with. They looked at several before deciding on one in particular. The deciding factor for Khaat was the look in Brian's eyes when she put it on. It captivated him like nothing else she had ever worn, and it was clear on his face. She knew--this was the one. He was more than happy to buy it for her. She picked out a few accessories but felt like she wanted some special things to go with it that clearly were not here.

He took her back to the Parke hotel, where they stored the dress in the closet. Then he took her downstairs for lunch to the hotel dining room.

Cassidy walked with Angus " humm, sounds much less acidic than what i would have thought to use " she said compltly comfortable around him in her borrowed night shirt . walking into Khaats room again she watched him turn on the light her eyes fell to a pair of jeans that had the tag still on and a New York Yankees Women's Team T-Shirt she smiled and moved behind a rack, Slipping out of the night she threw it over a chair and slipped on the topn and jeans as she dressed she saw some boots and sliped them on under her jeans before stepping out smiling " well will I do ? " she asked smiling " not too casual do you think " she held the arms over her hands " I'd better wash and return those clothes i borrowed yesterday" she took a deep breath " smells like your scones are ready " she said and moved down to the kitchen, sliding out the tray she placed them on a cooling wire and let them cool.

"Keep the nightgown," Angus said. "Its not one of her favorites anyway. You look fine. I dont think I've seen her wear that shirt for ages. I wonder why Brian hasn't ousted it from her closet before now. Keep it." He agreed. The scones were ready to come out. He watched her go downstairs, and while she was gone, he flicked his wand at several other items that he knew seemed to be her style more than Khaat's. He removed them from her closet and sent them over to Cassidy's. He took enough that it would keep her at least a week in clean clothes. They could always add more later. That would do for now. It had only taken a moment.

He went back downstairs and inspected the scones. They looked fine. He took the casserole out of the oven and began to set the table for breakfast.

Cassidy watched him take out teh casserole and smeled it " wow, my mouth watering already " she said piking up the glasses from the cupboard and placing them on the table one by one as she hummed as she moved some how she felt things were looking up again " do you want a hand dishing up ?" she asked " I have a patrol but its not till after we eat " she pulled up her sleeves and picked up the over gloves to move the casserole dish to the table , placing a large ladel with it " did you use the herbs we bought in it , something smells familier " she said trying to place it i her mind .

"I used the chives. Chives are good with eggs. Gives them a slight oniony flavor without being very heavy. As far as the washing up goes, I just use cleaning up spells for that. I love to cook but I hate washing up. So I cheat. I make the magic do all the work. We'd better go get the girls up. I wonder where the heck everyone else is today? They had yesterday off, but I didn't think they had today off too.

"I'm out of schedule with the girls today. We need to get them up and feed them, and then we'll do their baths and dress them. Its a bit backwards, but it'll be okay for today." He watched Max and Mo come into the kitchen and watched them look rather forlornly into the empty kibble bowl.

"Oh, sorry, guys," Angus said. He opened a plastic kibble bin and got out a large scoop of kibbles and put them into the bowl. He picked up the water bowl and dumped out the old water and put fresh in. "There. Now you're set for a bit. Try not to feed them to the babies, would you? Their mama frowns on that." He petted both cats.

Cassidy smiled " smells wonderfull " she said and looked at him " ow its ok i'll get them " she said and moved to the door chukaling as she saw the cats and heard Angus " if those girls eat any more kibble they will turn into cats " she said chuckaling as she headed up the stairs finding both girls sat up in there crib she set the bath running . picking up abbey she carried her to the bath room setting her down in the warm shallow water and washed her tll she was clean but she let her splas and play as she made a yellow rubber duck bob and duck under the water. Lifting abby out she wondered if this was what it would be like if she had kids but she just smiled wrapping abby in a soft towel and carrying her to the dresing table . dressing her in a clean dyper and pretty dress she placd her bak in her crib while she did the same for Dakota. with both dressed she picked them up and carried them down to the dinning room table. " two little girls wash and dressed and hungry Angus" she said smiling as she placed each in their high chair.

"Thats good because I have their breakfast right here," Angus said, putting a bowl on each tray of the high chair and setting a bottle for each of them on the table. While Cassidy was gone he had served the breakfast dishes. He made sure they had fresh coffee and served up breakfast on his plate.

"Well, maybe its just you and me today," Angus said. "Looks like the others have abandoned ship on us. It'll be interesting to see how Steven and Jess and Jack explain that to Brian or Robert. They're all late as it is. Way late. That will be very interesting, I think. Well, if you think you can handle the inside of the house, I'll go work outside on the estate ground today. There is enough yardwork for a platoon. I might have to just go set spells into place and let the magic take care of it. I like doing it by hand but there's only one of me and hundreds of acres to take care of."

Cassidy chuckled and nodded helping Dakota with a peice of her breakfast, in a way she was glad it was just them she didn't feel like explaining to steven, jack and jess why she was wearing khaats clothes. " Would that be a bad thing?" she said softly as she caught some food Abbey dropped in front of her. She was glad of a bit of a quiet day she wasnted time to think over her options thought she was staying there with khaat that she did know she ahd to think over her feelings towards men , thought she looked on Angus as a freind than a male in her life the same with jack, Steven ll all the males she knew but this had shaken her trust a little. " I'll look after the inside and the girls don't worry" she said finishing her own food finding she felt hungrier that she had before.

"Its not bad for us. It could be bad for them. Robert and Brian are fairly no nonsense," Angus shrugged. "Alright. That's all for me. I really do have to go out and work. I"m taking Brian's horse. It needs to be walked. I truet you can take care of things in here." He got up and waved the table to clear itself. He stepped into the kitchen and started the kitchen to clean itself. He poured himself a thermos of coffee and took a bottle of water as well.

He put on his work jacket and his leather hat. "You know how to find me if you need me, I'm sure," he called after her. "Don't let Dakota tank up on kibbles."

He went out to the barn and saddled up Brian's horse. He looked at the mare who looked restless. He put a bridle on her and decided to take her as well, let her walk along with them. He climbed up on Brian's horse and headed out to the estate to work.

After lunch, Khaat and Brian began working on making plans for their ceremony. Khaat was surprised hwo dedicated Brian was to the task. He wanted Lizzie to do the cooking so that everyone could relax. He made sure they kept the guest list very small. It was going to be very casual. The only thing that was rather dressy was the ceremony itself. Brian was specific that he wanted flowers everywhere.

Khaat was surprised at how much he wanted to do for her. In every way, this looked like a wedding. Brian and Khaat decided to write their own commitment vows. They didn't want gifts--they just wanted their friends to be there.

Cassidy watched him male a thermos of coffee and began to wonder how long he was planning on being away from the house " you planning on being gone long?" she asked her arms wraping around her " just so I know " she asked feeling she was acting like a child again she pulled herself together she was stronger than that , besides as she knew angus was quite capable of taking care of himself . Cassidy spotted dakota heading for the cats kibble bowl and sighed moving to pick her up watching as he rode away " I won't" she said softly and sat down in a large chair she placed Dakota in the crib leaving abbey to crawl around with max and mo on guard.

Soon she saw steven walk in and she smiled "hey, erm breakfast is over" she said " might be something left you could have if you want" she said picking up abbly and plcing ehr in the crib with Dakota " Dakota, please no hitting abbey" she said .

steven smiled as he walked into the main room of the ranch " hi, its ok i ate already woth dylan and delilah " he said smiling to her but he saw a tenshion in her eyes he'd not seen before " you ok?" he asked turning to see jack and jess walk in hand in hand stopping he watched them kiss " ow get a room you two" he said smiling .