Finding Femininity

"I'd be happy to help you with that if you like," Kate smiled. "I like to cook."

"She's a good cook too," Robert laughed. "And Angus will be fine. He was up a little with me during the night. I sent him back to bed. I'm starting to give him potion to clear up his energy drain. It might take a few doses for him to regain his magical energies, but that will correct itself today. That will take care of a huge amount of the overall fatigue he feels. I'm guessing by morning he'll be back at his full duties." He turned and looked upstairs. "I hear a pair of little girls."

"I'll go," Kate said.

"I'll go with you. We do have two," Robert said. He and Kate went upstairs and got the babies up and bathed and dressed. When they brought the babies down, the girls were trying to sing and babble and talk. "Cassidy, do you have any breakfast for a pair of little girls? They seem like they're ready to eat."

Cassidy smiled at Kate " I would love the help" she said smiling then she heard that Angus had been up in the night and she felt herself relax abit more " yes i have them " she said moving to the fridge she took them out and placed one on each high chair each had fresh fruit and a bottle of warm milk to drink " i seem to becoming adept at antisipating those two " she said smiling.

She watched kate and Robert head up to the nursary and she went to the frezzer to take the rack she ahd seen in there , prepering it she paced all the veg around and under it then covered it in tin foil and lit the oven sliding it in she set it on a low heat and sid it in. Now stood back she thought about desert and again sat at the books she could already smell the aromas from the veg and the meat as it slowly cooked and she smiled.

Robert and Kate sat down and fed the girls, enjoying every second of it. As they fed them, Khaat and Brian apparated home, his arm tightly clutching her waist.

"Well, welcome home," Robert said. "How are you?"

"We're good," Brian said. "Um, Kate, Robert. I have something I need to tell you. Cassidy, you are welcome to come hear this. Khaat and I have decided that we're going to be a couple, whether she actually ever divorces Rob or not. Rob has nothing to do with this or with us. We'd like to do a commitment ceremony to make it official. And we'd like it to be just a small gathering of our closest friends and family. We'd like your blessings."

Robert smiled, pleased. "You have them, Son," he said. "She loves you. And you're already a family. We will support you with all we have. We'll be there."

"With pleasure," Kate agreed.

"Show your mother that ring he gave you," Robert told Khaat. Khaat showed her mother the ring, and Kate kissed Khaat's cheek.

"It's beautiful," she agreed. She looked at Brian. "You couldn't have chosen better. What does yours look like?"

"Not anything near hers," he laughed. He showed Kate and Robert his ring, but Kate and Robert thought it suited him well.

Cassidy saw Brian dn Khaat return and moved to the living room wondering what it was they had to say , when he spoke Cassidy beamed at them when kate moved to look at the ring Cassidy moved with her " beautiful Khaat" she said softly still smiling " you both deserve happyness khaat " she said and " she hugged her " congratulations Khaat " she said softly and stepped back giving Robert and kate time alone she was happy for her. Moving to the kitchen she brought out a tray with glasses on and a bottle of wine " I hope you dont mind but i thought maybe we should toat the new couple "she said showing Robert the lable and smiled as it was non alcaholic " not while on duty" she said softly as she pored each person a glass and handed it to them.

"Good choice," Robert said. They all took a glass. "Allow me," Robert said. He lifted his glass. "To your every happiness. May it be so long and so strong that it flows down over all your children. May you know nothing but happiness for the rest of your lives."

"Thank you, Robert," Brian smiled, lifting his glass. Khaat lifted her glass and touched her glass to Brians. They drank slowly.

"Are you joining us for breakfast?" Robert asked.

"I thought we might," Brian said.

"Excellent!" Robert smiled. "We have a lot to discuss."

"Robert!" Kate reprimanded.

"Well, they need to know. Its not bad news. Its good news."

"You never stop working, do you?" she sighed.

"Not when its important."

Cassidy smiled as Robert said she had made a good choice, " here here" she said smiling as she drank a sip of the wine she reay wasn't a wine drinker but did it because it was a special day now. Collecting the glasses as eah person finished she placed them in the dishwasher and smiled humming as she cleaned up feeling the happyness that now filled the house. she decided to have a go at making a peach sorbet for desert.

In a saucepan she combine water, sugar and lemon juice she then cooked and stir over medium heat until sugar was dissolved she let it cool slightly then moved it to a blender. Adding the peaches she covered and processed until it was smooth. She then transfer sorbet to a freezer container, covered it and found a place in the frezzer for it hoping it would be ready for desert at lunch.

"So," Brian asked, sitting and taking a scone. "What's the business of the day?"

"Eat your breakfast, Son," Kate told him. "Don't just pick at a scone."

"Yes, Mother," he teased. fixing a plate for himself. The others sat down and fixed themselves plates. Khaat sat beside him. "We could use some good news."

"I brought the whole bloody team over, and they spent the night. Your estate looks better now than it has ever looked. The crater is gone for good. sealed and concealed with enchantments, and the minute anyone unwanted even attempts to get onto the grounds now, they will actually walk through a portal that takes them into the Black Forest in Germany. They'll have a long walk before they even find where the hell they are. They wont' get anywhere near the house."

"That is, truly, a relief," Brian said.

"And the livestock has been taken care of, and all those bloody chores that Angus can't get to are done. The lad works far too hard for you, even if you do pay him well. I want him resting today. Understand?"

"We can handle it."

"Now we can," Robert said. "You can have Angus back tomorrow."

"Fine by me,"

"Are you done with the work now?" Kate asked impatiently.

"I don't know. Are we?" Robert looked at Brian.

Cassidy ate her food glad to hear angus would be back the next day she fiished and headed back to the kitchen to prepare the sorbet for that days dinner , she ored the juices of the lamb over the meat and lid it back in the oven to continue cooking. Heading back she managed to gather several empty platesa s steven headed out teh french windows again and so did jack and jess all on patrol. After disposing of those dishes she moved into the living room and sat down she glanced at the stairs but chaged her mind she ahd things to do . standing she moved to the barn and found the same tan horse she had rode the day before , patting her neck she noticed a small burn that had not been there before or if it had she had not noticed taking a cloth she cleaned it and made sure she was comfortable " Im sorry " she said softly the horse nuzzled against her as if saying it wasn't her fault, she moved to the horse Angus had been riding finding it to be bigger than the one she had chosen " Hey boy, he's going to be fine" she said softly as she brushed her hand over his musculer neck she could not help think that this horse reminded her of Angus strong yet gentel at the same time , she smiled as he too nuzzzled her and whinnied as she brushed him down.

"I need to go into St. Mungos today," Khaat said. "I do have some checks I need to sign and a meeting with the trustees I cannot miss."

"I wish I could go for you, but I have a meeting at the ministry at the same time," Robert sighed. "Do take someone with you."

"Nobody wants to sit through those meetings," Khaat sighed.

"They are boring as hell,' Robert agreed. "Still....do me a favor and dont' go alone."

"Okay."

"I'll see you later, then." He rose, kisssed her and Kate. "See you all later. Tell Cassidy thanks for the breakfast." He apparated out.

"I have to go dress," Khaat said.

"I'll ask Jack or Steven to go with you," Brian said. Khaat more or less waved away his concern and went upstairs to change for her meeting at the hospital. Brian went outside and saw Jess closest to him. He called to her.

Jess looked over at Brian and smiled nodding as he walked over " I will acompany her to St. Mongos " she said smirking as she moved back toward the main living room , as she did she saw Cassidy walk out of the barn and across to the house " Cassidy, thank you for the breakfast it was wonderful " she said walking with her " would you look ater the girls Khaats going to work for a bit to day and i have ...in away , been asked to go with her " she asked smiling .


Cassidy finished feeding and watering teh horses and moved back to the living room she saw Jess walk over to her and together they walked back "I will, thank you, Angus has tought me a lot , i'm just glad to put it to good use , i will never be as good as him but I can learn from him" she said smiling, she saw Jess smile at her and frowned at her heading for the kitchen as she entered poring a cold drink of water for her self then a second to take up to Angus .