New Day, New Life

Khaat had visited with Michael and Mis. It had been lovely, but she was exhausted. Brian, in the end, had shrunken the 3 dozen apricot colored roses and had slid them gingerly into his shirt pocket. He had picked up Khaat and Robert had put their new daughter in Khaat's arms. That left Steven to bring the two new sons, and he hoped they would be right behind Khaat and him.

Her father had been specific. It was late at the safehouse, and Khaat needed rest. He wanted her in bed for at least the first 12 hours. Then, with Brian's help, she could try to be up for very short distances and time periods, increasing slowly. Following the treatment plan he laid out. He expected someone to be sent to the farm to alert Kate or him of even the slightest change if it didn't go according to plan. And he was planning on being there well before Khaat could worry.

Brian wasn't worried but he clearly knew that Khaat was deeply frightened and worried about Robert. She hadn't argued with him. She had dropped the subject, but Brian knew her far too well. She was afraid she would lose him just like she had lost Remus. It was a wound that had never healed for her. Robert had had to try to reassure her and then trust that Brian could deal with it.

Kate had kissed each child and draped a light blanket over each of the babies'faces in order to shield them from the fierce wind in the portkey. She kissed Khaat and reassured her again that she was not about to let anything happen to Robert. Then Robert and Kate had sent them on their way. It was going to leave the hospital dumbfounded about how their director had gone within mere moments of delivering triplets, taking the children with her, to parts unknown.

Brian appeared outside the front door. "Khaat, can you, please?" he asked. "I guess I really do get to carry you across the threshold."

"Alohamora," she said, firing a wandless magic spell at the door. "Don't you think we're either too early or too late for the threshold tradition?" she asked.

"Never," he smiled. He brought her inside. "Well, here we are, Mother and Daughter. Hopefully the boys are coming. Steven was in charge of that. Wow. This is some place."

"Its beautiful," Khaat said, looking around.

"Angus, in my pocket. Michael brought Khaat a bouquet of roses," Brian said. "Please?" Angus went over and fished the tiny bouquet of roses. Angus frowned, holding it between his thumb and forefinger.

"Cant' he afford fullsized ones?" Angus asked.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that." Brian flicked his finger and the bouquet changed back to fullsize, making Angus drop them on the floor due to the sudden change of size.

"You coulda warned me," he scowled, picking them up.

"That wouldn't be as fun, now would it?" Brian laughed. Then he said to Khaat, "Alright, my love. Its late here, and you've had a very busy day already. You heard your father. Bed. Where are we going, Gang? And would someone take the new little princess here for us and give Mom a break until she's had a rest?"

"We weren't even thinking of three," Brian said, "but I do like the names we discussed. We weren;t sure if we were having 2 boys, 2 girls, or one of each, so we prepared 4 names--for whatever happened. Khaat, we just need to use what we liked. In fact, I did tell your father to go ahead and enter the names on the birth certificates according to what we decided."

"You did?" Khaat asked.

"Yep."

"I'm glad," she said. "Then, in that case, our new daughter is Julia Katherine Lupin. Baby Boy 1 is Robert Remus Lupin, and Baby Boy 2 is Michael Brian Lupin. "

"Abbey, Julia, Robert, and Michael,..and of course Dakota," Brian smiled, testing the names in his head. He looked at Khaat. "Its good, Its really good. I like it."

"This is going to make us change everything about what we thought we were doing."

"Of course it does," Brian said. "Its alright. You let me do the Dad thing for now while you take care of yourself for a bit."

"I want to be involved with my children," she said.

"You will be, but for pitys sake, at least take the time to recover a bit. You're not even one hour out from major surgery and giving me triplets." He kissed her slowly. "You are amazing. Thank you."

"You're really okay with it, aren;t you?"

"Yeah," he grinned. "I have 5 kids. I haven't ever been happier.""

"Its gonna get nuts," she said.

"Yeah," he grinned, "Isn't it great?" She sighed and curled her head into his shoulder. "Alright. Enough. Bed. We've got the kids. Its time to get you settled." Brian took her into their massive master suite that Angus had opened to the warm tropical breeze. Khaat was stunned. It was gorgous. She was speechless. Brian put her very gently into bed and covered her. He was about to say something when Angus came in with a coffee mug.

"You've waited nine months for this. Just try it. Youre not going to want French Roast ever again once you taste this," Angus smiled.

"You've found something better than French Roast?" she frowned

"Oh yeah," he said, handing her the mug. She smelled the coffee. It smelled divine. She took a taste and looked at Angus, frowning.

"Wow. This is utterly amazing," she said. "Its some of the best I've ever tasted."

"Yeah," he smiled. "Enjoy. Are you hungry?"

"Not yet," she said.

"I've got plenty ready. Just say the word," he said.

"I will. Thanks," she said. He went over and looked at the babies.

"They're beautiful, Khaat. Really. You and Brian have every right to be proud."

"Thank you."

"Alright," Brian said. "Time for rest. We can visit later." He shooed everyone out and left the room, pulling the door only partway closed so he could hear if she needed anything. She laid awake for quite awhile, trying to absorb it all, finally falling into an exhausted sleep.

"It's fine, Jess," Brian said, waving her concern away. Seven babies? Brian was struggling to wrap his head around the three he just got within the last hour. Now there were two more added to the list. He'd waved away Jess's concern because he was on Daddy-overload.

"We'll manage, Mate," Angus laughed. "Go take a walk while Khaat sleeps. You've had a stressful day. I know you weren't expecting triplets. Nobody was. Go on. We've got it. She's tired."

"She certainly is," Brian sighed. "Alright. Thanks. Try the coffee, Guys. I might get rid of the French Roast for this. I'll be back." He took his coffee cup and went outside, deciding to talk a walk under the stars to clear his head.

"I think fatherhood is hitting him hard. Two were one thing, and now he's suddenly looking at five. I think he's starting to feel it now," Angus smiled. "We need to help him de-stress a bit. I got some really good ale made by a microwbrewer here. Maybe later he'll be in the mood for a beer later. Anybody else got any ideas?"

Khaat was sleeping and was awakened by some very soft fussing. It awakened her and she got up. The pain of being up so soon ripped through her stomach. She grabbed the bedpillow to hold against her stomach to try to reduce the awkward sensation that her guts were going to fall out. She had to hang onto the furniture in order to get over to the cribs and she found that Julia was not happy. She picked up the child and laid her on her shoulder with one hand, hoping to be able to make it back to bed without falling, and without her innards coming out. She realized it was very unlikely that her innards would actually come out, not with her father closing the incision magically. Still the sensation was very disturbing.

Brian was out on the beach and looked towards the house. He saw a silhouette moving in their bedroom. He dropped the mug on the sand and raced back into the house, drawing his wand. "Someone's walking around in the bedroom," he announced, racing down the hall towards the bedoom.

Brian lowered his wand, He sighed heavily. He saw that Julia was fussing. He went over to Jess and simply took the newborn and said softly, "Thanks, Jess." Then he walked out carrying his daughter with him. Khaat noticed he did not have one ounce of emotion in his face. She sighed heavily.

"He's not dealing with this. Not at all. This is all just too much for him," Khaat said to Jess. "Its too much to ask of any man--fathering another man's children. I can't do this to him, Jess. I really do need to look for a place on my own. I...can't put him through this. Look at him. I...well, lets just say its been a long time since I've seen him looking so shellshocked." She was worried that she had finally overstayed her welcome in Brian's life. Maybe he needed her to go.