All It Needs is You.

Khaat wrote the parchment to Eli and sealed it with sealing wax and the Lupin family crest signet ring. It was still, by Eli's funtioning, early morning. And...she figured he would not mind being given the opportunity and permission to opt out of the class he hated the most. And, once he saw what she had for him, he was going to be doubly pleased.

She stroked the feathers of her beautiful eagle and gave him a bit of the leftover steak from her breakfast plate. He gobbled it down eagerly and nudged her affectionately. "Eli," she commanded the bird. "Don't let him sleep. Get his butt out of bed." The bird make a squawk. He did enjoy being able to not take no for an answer. He took the parchment and flew off with it.

Khaat was putting on a light spring jacket over her tan raw silk slacks that she had paired with neutral stilettos and a green silk tailored blouse. Her a tailored white linen coat that went below her knees. There was a gentle spring rain outside, and the coat would protect her. As she was putting her coat on, Abbey came in. When she saw Khaat was going out, Abbey stuck out her bottom lip in a pout.

"Would you like to go with me?" Khaat asked. Abbey nodded, excited. Khaat followed her back to the nursery. She helped Abbey change to jeans and a pink t shirt, pink sneakers, and got out her fuschia colored jacket with the white kitty on it. Khaat tied Abbey's hair into a bow with a pink ribbon, letting the long blond hair hang with its trace of natural curl down Abbey's back. Abbey pointed to her necklaces that hung on handcarved wooden pegs on the wall. Khaat had taken a ring that Rob had given her. A golden heart with a white opal set. She had had it made into a locket for Abbey. It held magical pages like a book. She had put Brian's picture, her own, her parents, her other children, and Rob's picture in it. Khaat didn't want her to not know her biological father. Abbey called Brian Daddy, but she also understood Rob was Daddy Rob.

Khaat picked up Abbey and then apparated out to Diagon Alley.

Meanwhile, Archangel glided into the window of the Slytherin common room and made the short hop to Eli's bed. He dropped the parchment onto the bed and took hold of Eli's hair in his beak. and gave it a strong yank. He followed it by a loud eagle screech.

The morning was fresh, new and the air had yet to lose its chill from the night before. It was because of this that a young man nearing his twenties snuggled in underneath the thick sheets that he’d drawn over his and his company’s bodies the night before once they were thoroughly spent of their energies. He’d buried his face in her long, slender neck, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair. Her distraction had been fleeting of course and his mind had naturally strayed to Mira but he had forced himself to stay in the moment and he slowly found himself beginning to enjoy the girl’s body for what it was, not compare her to the blonde he’d let out of his life. Eli had yet to forgive the woman for leaving but he accepted things as they were. He had no choice in that. That morning was a peaceful one though and once he’d snuggled back down underneath the covers he wound his arm around the girl’s waist and drew her close to him, folding himself around her and beginning to idly caress her stomach with the tips of his fingers. Of course, not an hour later, that bloody bird arrived.

Elijah shot an arm into the air, batting the bird away and sending it retreating to the footboard where it rested for a moment, its beady little eyes narrowed on Elijah. The bird squealed a little and Elijah lifted his head, simultaneously making a hand gesture to tell the bird its presence was neither appreciated nor wanted. Of course, that merely enraged the animal and it flew to Elijah’s side, giving a sharp yank of his hair for a second time before screeching in his ear. This time, Elijah became a little bit more aggressive, his own call ripping from his throat in a roar, his arm part-transfiguring into the arm of his Animagus counterpart. He missed, thankfully, but he did not wish to harm the animal. The eagle looked at him, thoroughly unimpressed and Elijah sighed, moving to get out of bed. He grabbed his jeans and pulled them up to his hips before taking the parchment from the animal and opened it up.

“Of course,” He murmured after a moment. “Who else owns a sodding animal like you? Jesus Christ. Archangel, go away will you? Just lemme have a shower and I’ll Apparate in an hour or so, okay?”

But the bird did not move, or indicate that it was ‘okay’. Elijah sighed.

“Fine, bloody bird. Give me twenty minutes at best.” The bird squawked. “Fine! Ten then!”

Not twenty minutes later, Elijah apparated into the Leaky Cauldron and passed on his usual, walking straight through the bar into Diagon Alley where he made short work of getting to Jen’s. He came in through the back door, the lights still off, and gave a shout for Khaat, for anybody really.

“Hello?”

Khaat had left the lights low in the club on purpose and had created a bit of a temporary illusion that it was still Jen's. She slid off the barstool and picked up the glass of the vintage, well aged firewhiskey she was nursing and went over to Eli as Archangel glided into the room and perched up on her shoulder. She had no desire for his talons to tear the french vanilla silk. She was delighted to see him. He looked as handsome as ever.

"Good morning," she said to him. "Thank you for coming."

"Go find Brian, would you?" she asked Archangel, stroking the bird. "He has your treats in his pocket. Make him give you some." The bird appeared delighted and turned his head, seeming to know which room Brian was in and glided off easily. She looked at Eli and wanted to laugh. "He woke you up, didn't he?" she asked, resisting the urge to laugh but not able to resist a smile. "I'm sorry, but I am hoping this will be worth it, though.

"I have something for you," she said. "I've..been working on it for awhile. Eli, you've done everything I've ever asked you to do--even when it wasn't easy. And I am so very proud of you. So--I asked you here so I could give you your graduation gift."

She flicked her wand and removed the illusion of Jen's place. With a second flick, she lit the lights to reveal the dining room that was so elegant and showcased Eli's finest art.

"Its all yours. The restaurant, the wine cellar, the bar, and..the concert hall. All five star, and all for you. The Blue Moon does not exist any longer. Eli's, however, does. Happy Graduation--even if it is a bit early."

She kissed him on the cheek and pressed a ring of keys into his hand. The keys to the place. Gold keys on a gold keyring with a magically unbreakable, stained glass copy of the restaurant's central painting on it.

There was a certain amount of weariness in his stance that would only be gotten rid of by a hearty breakfast and a handful of cups of coffee. Elijah knew where he’d be headed to after Khaat led him on her wild goose chase for whatever it was she needed. There was a quiet little cafe in Kent that Apparation allowed him to visit as often as he liked. He intended to go there, at least for a late breakfast, before Apparating to his home back up in Scotland to spend the weekend with Fauve and Thierry - perhaps even a little bit longer too. His assignments were in his bag, Elijah remembered, so perhaps it would suit him best to go back to Hogwarts momentarily before heading home.

He was away with the fairies when Khaat spoke and once the words registered, albeit slowly, in Elijah’s mind, he looked up, shock written across his face as the lights came on, bathing the room in a soft orange glow. His lips parted, mouth opening wide in disbelief as what she said made sense to him in his mind. Eventually he moved, letting his fingers drift across the backs of the chairs and the tabletops. Finally he came to a stop having drifted across the other side of the room.

“Thank you,” He told her gently, a smile curling his lips upwards. “Thank you so much.”

"Gervaise!" she called. A long, tall, and lean man in his upper 20's, with what Khaat had thought of as 'stunning blond hair' came out of the kitchen, wearing chef whites.

"Madame Lupin," he greeted her with a broad smile in a thick French accent, and came forward and kissed her hand, very politely. "Bonjour."

"Gervaise," Khaat said. "This is my son, Eli. I told you about him. He is now your employer."

"Ah! The gift! It has been given!"

"Oui," Khaat said. She looked at Eli, "He is a graduate of Beauxbatons and has completed executive chef training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and finished at the top of his class. His talents in the kitchen and his references are all exceptional." She drew out a menu and the very extensive wine list and handed them to Eli. "When you get a chance, you might want to take a look."

"It is a pleasure to meet you at last, Mr. Krum. Madame has told me so much about you. I would be very honored to prepare a tasting menu for you at your convenience. But you will want the tour first, no? It is quite beautiful, and I feel quite sure it will be a success."

"Gervaise, any chance there is any espresso?" Khaat asked.

"But, of course! One moment! Mr. Krum? Something to drink perhaps?" Gervaise asked, quickly preparing a cup of espresso for Khaat. Khaat loved the aroma of espresso, and she watched him serve it in the sleek white espresso cup and saucer with the twist of lemon and the little cube of sugar and the tiny espresso spoon.

"Thank you," she said, taking in the aroma, wishing she could store the aroma in her head to make use of it later. It was divine. She looked back at Eli, pulliing herself away from the intoxicating aroma of the espresso steam. "When you get a chance to take it in, would you like to take a look around?" Khaat asked.