Feminine Fire

"The cats," Khaat said, after she watched Jess and Angus leave.

"OH!" Brian exclaimed. He called the cats to their carriers, and Khaat took Abbey from Brian. Brian shouldered the two shoulder carriers along with the two bags. He reached for Khaat's hand with his free hand and then apparated them back. When they got back, Brian set all four bags on the floor and opened the carriers. Max jumped out and flicked his tail at Brian in irritation and stomped off.

"I think you ticked him off by almost forgetting him and Mo," Khaat laughed.

he was surprised to see that Robert and Kate had not gotten there yet since they had left before. Where were they? Where was Abbey? He was a bit concerned. Khaat didn't seem at all worried. She set Dakota on the floor who took off looking for Max. It made Khaat laugh. "Its a good thing he's a young cat," Khaat laughed. "She is so attached to him."

"She certainly is," Brian said.


"I'm glad it was a smooth trip," Angus said. He proceeded to put on a pot of tea and a pot of coffee. "The cookies look good, Jess. Thanks for making them. If you all send your laundry to the laundry room, I'll get to it. Kieran, would you show Dean and Fiona to a guest room please?"

"No problem, Mate," Kieran smiled.

"Wait...I thought we were going to Brian's house," Fiona frowned.

"Yeah," Brian nodded, a bit confused.

"But..." she began, looking around at the vastness of the log mansion around her.

"Fi," Kieran said. "This IS Brian and Khaat's house. This is it. It's not a hotel. We're home." Fiona didn't say anything. She just looked stunned.

"This is it? We're here?" she asked softly.

"Fi," Brian laughed. "Its just a house. You're at home. Be comfortable. We're all family here. Make yourself at home."

"How big is this place?" Dean frowned.

"I'll show you around," Kieran said to them. "Come with me." He led them off on a tour of the house.

A few moments later, Robert and Kate and Abbey showed up. "You get lost?" Brian asked them.

"No," Robert laughed. "Somebody had to order breakfast. Brace the kitchen. The feast will be here in a few minutes."

"Jack," Kate called. "If you don't come out, you'll have to eat kibbles for breakfast instead of the buffet!"

"I dare you to leave him that way until just after the buffet," Angus laughed.

"I'll leave it up to him," Kate said. Khaat wandered out to the kitchen and looked over the buffet. "Hm. Looks good," she said, picking up a strip of bacon. She began to munch on it and poured a cup of coffee for herself and one for Brian.

"Anyone else want coffee or tea?" she asked.

"Just pour several, please, Khaat," Angus said. "You know who likes what." She poured several mugs of coffee and tea, about an even number of each. She set them out on the buffet where people could take their pick and then took Brian's coffee mug to him.

"Alright," she laughed. "You've suffered enough." She flicked her wand at him and changed him back. She watched him almost instantaneously shift back to human form. "So, what did Max teach you about being a cat? And did you enjoy it?"

"You probably scared him off playing cards with you ever again," Robert said, sitting down with a fresh mug of tea and the morning copy of the Prophet. It felt like things were getting back to normal. Khaat felt more secure being home, watching her father sit with his first cup of tea, his morning newspaper and his reading glasses. It was something he had done for decades when things were safe. She felt a sudden deep relief and she wasn't sure why. He looked up at her. "Something eating you, my dear?"

"No," she said softly. "Just feels good to be home."

"You weren't gone forever," he laughed. "Stop thinking so much. Just enjoy your day. Find something fun to do."

"That's an excellent idea," Brian said. "Anyone got any ideas?"

"Well, we did plan that barbeque for tonight," Angus said. "I'm still planning on doing it. I think the ladies should go spend the day at a dayspa and get a massage, their hair and nails done, the whole bit."

Brian fixed plates for him and for Khaat, and Kate did the same for her and Robert. It seemed like people were just choosing to eat wherever they wanted. They were just glad to be home. Robert seemed to be contended eating in the living room where he could just enjoy his coffee and his tea. Khaat saw Kieran and Fiona and Dean came back from the tour and fixed plates. They chose to eat at the table, and talked about how marvelous the house was and how beautiful it was and how they couldn't believe that Fiona's little brother had anything so grand.

"We're talking of going to a dayspa," Khaat told Fiona. "You want to come? Mom? You coming?"

"That depends on whether the guys can deal with the babies," Kate laughed.

"I've been dealing with women for a long time. I think I can do it," Brian said.

"Oh, right. You're such a ladies' man," Khaat teased.

"Go," Robert told them . "Go enjoy. We have it under control--in spite of Brian." They laughed.

When Khaat got ready to go to the spa, she felt Brian's tension as clearly she felt her own emotions. She tucked her wand in her jeans and went over and kissed him. "Don't worry. There are going to be four of us. We'll be fine."

"You want me to go with you?" he asked.

"No," she said laughing. "I think I can do this by myself."

"Be careful, huh?"

"We will. Go work out with Jack while we're gone."

"I'm going to do the dad thing."

"Don't give me that. Take the girls' playpen to the gym and take them with you. They might as well get used to the smell of stinky sweaty guy funk early. They're going to smell a lot of it." Brian just looked at her. Her father stifled a slight urge to laugh at her but he couldn't help a smile.