Finding Femininity

"If its on his ass, we don't want to see it, Jess, " Angus said, coming downstairs with a baby in each arm. "What'd you get, Jack, little butterflies on your bum? I wonder how attractive that will be the next time you morph into a werewolf. A were with little butterflies on his ass. Maybe I will get my camera after all."

Khaat didn't believe for one moment it was a butterfly of any sort, but she didn't particularly need to see his bum either if that was where the new tat was. The cats followed Angus downstairs, and they both took off chasing the dot of light on the wall that Cara's medallion had made. Dakota made a dive to leap out of Angus's arms to go follow Max.

"Wait a second, Halfpint," Angus laughed. "Alright, here. Go get him." He put Dakota on the floor who seemed to be able to crawl faster if she was trying to catch up to Max. Abbey had no desire to be put down on the floor. She was far more interested in cuddling. Robert went over to Angus.

"My turn," he said, taking her. She cuddled into Robert immediately. "She's a lot like you were, Khaat."

cassidy smirked hearing the banter from the living room sot to see this " she said ghe wlked our flour on her cheek " ow I so g rinning .

Jack gave up and lifted his sleeve to show his tattoo it was a trible with a pink heart and jess's name over it he showed jess , seeing the beam on her face as she touched it lightly with her finger.

Jess waited for him to so something finally he gave in and moved his sleeve , she saw the tattoo and smiled " its beautiful " she said and felt it on his skin his hands snaked around her waste .

"even in wolf form every one will know who my heart belongs to" he said and kissed her jess kissed him back then pulled away blushing at such a display of afection in front of every one.


((jack tattoo ))

Angus smiled a bit and headed to the kitchen and started the eggs for breakfast.

Khaat sat in silence. She had seen the open display of affection between Jess and Jack. In one respect it hadn't been all that different from how Brian had simply held her all night and had weathered her through how terrified she'd been of the dark and how mortified she'd been of having to tell him the horrors of the alley. He'd been persistant and enlessly devoted, coaxing every painful instant she remembered from her mind out into the open. He had insisted on there not being one single secret, not one thing they did not share. He had insisted that there was not one moment of Hell he was not willing to walk with her.

Now, she felt just silent on the inside. Her spirit felt silent. She didn't believe that the suffering was over, but for the moment, she was, perhaps, in the eye of the storm. And she was glad no one was uprooting it.

In a few moments, Angus called everyone to the dining room. He really had a way with eggs. He could rustle up eggs in no time flat. Brian helped her to the dining room. Angus had a platter of crisp bacon strips, a large bowl of scrambled eggs, and a platter of apricot scones. He had added a large pitcher of orange juice and more pots of coffee and tea.

"I don't know of anybody who fixes breakfast faster than you do," Brian told him.

"Thank you," Khaat said softly as Brian helped her to her place at the table.

Jess kissed jack one last time and took his hand as the table "I hope dear your not expecting me to get one" she said and chuckled " you can think again " she said taking some bacon an eggs and a scone .

Jack took his and shook his head " no jess " he said softly and smiled at her now he knew she liked it and was not made he snuck off to get it "maybe i should get the kids next " he said grinning .

jess heard him and turned to look at him " yeah you do that and all you'll see is yuor furry butt with three butterflies on running around , coz you do that agan i'll make sure their on your butt" she said smiling at him .

Jack nodded and chuckled " yes dear " he said and loked at Brian " how do you do it Brian?" he asked earrning a slap from jess. "hey whats that for?" he asked her.

"thats for what your sujesting " she said smirking as she ate her break fast " now eat your breakfast big bad wolf" she chukled seeing him roll his eyes playfully.

When breakfast was over, Robert talked Khaat into letting him check her to be sure she was alright. Well, as alright as she was, given the circumstances. He made sure she was comfortable and made sure she was well enough to be up. He taped her ankles and thought that he was now seeing more healing in them than he had seen in weeks. He was pleased, but he made it clear he was not changing what he was doing to heal them for her.

Today, he wrapped her long, heavy coat around her, pressed her stick into her hand and he took her outside walking across the estate. Khaat saw the guards everywhere on the grounds today, and it was reassuring. She saw them but they were far enough away for them not to hear. Today, her father wanted her details, wanted what she knew.

And she told him. Calmer, dry eyed. Tired. She recited her facts to him as they walked. He gave her unconditional love, acceptance and reassurance. And he promised her that he was going to make sure that there was justice for everything Burke and Gelding had done. Everything.

Steven had taken it upon himself to teach Cassidy martial arts now in the sun they stood out on the grass he moved and had instructed Cassidy to copy till he told her to knock him down. Cassidy love this as she would copy him smiling thought focused she could not help love the feel of the sun on her skin she now word dark skin tight jogging trousers and a smiler top which showed her assets but was perfect for moving as she was in it . Ste heard Steven tell her to knock him down and with a swipe of her leg she threw him onto his back and on to the soft ground. "You did ask for it " she said grinning offering her hand " ok, again" she said and again she moved with him slow movements to start the building to more active ones, but always feeling for that slight twinge before backing off slightly knowing the limit of her calf muscle.


Steven had decided that Cassidy had had it easy too long and now he would start training her as h3e had been instructed to by Brian. He walked down in sweat pants and sleeveless vest taking hr hand he moved her from the living room tranphigering her clothes into the suit and took her out on to the lawn. "right training time , you watch what i do and you copy, got that ?" he saw her nod and began . he was impressed by how quickly she picked up on the moves even landing him on his butt but not till she had been laid down four times . He smiled seeing Khaat only distracted him and he fell from Cassidys leg swipe " no fair i was distracted " he said and saw her laugh.

Khaat was beginning to get a migraine. She was trying to ignore it, but her father stopped her. He laid his hands on the sides of her head and drew off the pain from her. "Better?" he asked.

"Yes. How did you know?" she asked.

"I know you. Its not that hard. You'll know Abbey that well. You already do, in many ways."

"Daddy, can I ask you a question?" she asked.

"Anything. You know that."

"Are you happy?"

"What?" he frowned. "What do you mean?"

"This life. St. Mungos, the Ministry, the organization,...Are you happy?"

"Where is this coming from?"

"A little over a hear ago, you were retired...."

"I'm a healer, Khaat. I'm only a fighter when I have to be. You know that."

"Do you regret it? All this?"

"No," he said firmly. "I like St Mungos. I feel useful there. The ministry, well, its just a job, Khaat. The organization, that's a cause I believe in, a lot like the Order. But, there are things I believe in far greater. I could walk away from any of it tomorrow. And I would, without a second thought or a regret, if it came to my family. Why? Where is all this coming from? Do you have second thoughts about asking me to come back to work?"

"Sometimes. Sometimes I wonder if life would be quieter without all this."

"Quiet can be very boring, Khaat," he laughed. "Stop regretting. Its fine. And it was necessary. What is there to regret? Or are you trying to figure out what you want for your own life?'

"Maybe," she said.

"You want my opinion?"

"Yes."

"I think I need to send Burke and Gelding a strong message and get them to bear off. That will get you some time for you to spend just resting and unwinding before you decide anything."

"Is that really what you think?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"Never."

Cassidy walked over to Khaat " hay, how you feeling today ?" she asked smiling at them both " its good to see you up and out " she said she noticed Steven stood with his arms folded " hes training me , so far i have had him down twice" she said chuckling as she saw him tap his foot and she chuckled " anyway he's at it again " she said smiling as he ran back over to face him again .

Later that day Cassidy was in the kitchen baking brad for that nights meal or so she hoped she stood kneading the bread and stood wondering what it would have been like for her to have some sort of family around her, a brother or sister anything other than just her parents , she shook her head guessing she would never know because as far as she knew she was all alone that way.

"I'm good," Khaat said. "Better than yesterday, I think. Thank you. Keep up on your workouts. They'll pay off. I miss being able to do it. And Steven is a good workout partner."

"It wont be long," Robert said. "Your ankles are a bit stronger than they were a couple weeks ago. I'm soon going to recommend that Brian start you with some small stretches and range of motion things. That'll take out the soreness from you."

"I hope," She said. "It was something Brian and I did together and right now neither of us can do it."

"Who said?" Robert frowned. "Brian is down in the gym right now. Its his knee, not the rest of him. I want him to stay in shape. And besides, he needs to work that cartilege and tendon now. I sent him there."

"While you bodyguarded me?"

"No. While we took a walk. You have bodyguards, and I am not one of them."

Steven finished his training and moved into the house when he saw Cassidy moved to the kitchen from up stairs she'd washed and changed . he moved down into the gym to use the weights machine to build up his arm muscles. "Hay Brian working out?" he asked seeing him down in the gym as he sat down. he glanced at the stairs as Cassidy walked down and hit the punch bag with some force " glad you didn't hit me like that " he said chuckling.

Cassidy walked down to the gym her bread had not gone as wall as she had hoped and now she crossed her fingers it would work out she's for got a small pitch of salt not much but an annoyance to her all the same " when i do you feel it trust me" she aid and hit it again as hard as she could.