LONDON CALLING

"No offense," he frowned, "but your parents are complete gits--both of them. The only thing I want for you is for you just to be happy. And, honestly, it's what I would want for my kids--for them to be safe and happy. And if you want to see the world, we'll see the world. It's just that simple.

"Look, we're both 32, and the truth is that wizards live longer than muggles, so we have time for children, if we ever make that choice. For now, we both work for a family that, at the drop of a hat, could be sent to some remote corner of the globe. That's why having someone like Giles and Diane on retainer is such a necessity. We have all learned, even if we do prefer to travel light, to have huge closets to accommodate all sorts of nations and climates and occasions. You'll learn to have a small duffel bag and a very large closet--just like the rest of us. So, you will end up seeing more of the world than you ever thought possible because, simply, that's Robert's world and we're all a part in it.

"And, because I've not found anyone to spend my life with--not yet anyway, I've been stacking up my salary in the bank, and I'm due to have some inheritance in its proper time. I'm not independently wealthy, but I'm nowhere near destitute either. We have plenty to do some traveling on. So, what's your idea of travel? 5 star luxury? Survival training in a Siberian winter? Or something in between? Just how adventurous are you, Ruby Tyler?"

"That's good," Angus said, "because I really don't care for caviar anyway. I've had it, but it isn't my idea of fine cuisine. My father's idea of adventure is a gamble on the stock market, and I'm afraid my mother is not into adventure at all. My brothers feel like they're really being naughty if they traverse to a muggle golf course and play a full 18 holes. And then there's me. I really should have just been hatched by Edward to begin with," he laughed. "He's the only one I'm blood related to that I have anything in common with, and he knows it. Truth be told, they don't know it yet, but he's disinherited the entire lot of them, down to his last pence and galleon. When that day comes, they're going all going to be completely beside themselves because every single thing he owns--it all comes to me--lock, stock and barrel--because he knows I'll manage it right." He finished his coffee as the waiter brought the tab, and Angus paid it, leaving a generous tip for a wonderful meal.

"Whenever you're ready," he said, "we'll port over to Edward's and pick up the boat from Evan--and then you'll have my complete undivided attention for the next two weeks."

"I know," Angus said, laughing. He knew she hadn't been attracted because of any lure of money because when they had given into a relationship, she hadn't known he had any. "And, yes, I was generous. It was a good lunch with great service, and I let them know we appreciated it."

When they ported into Edward's place the smell of the sea air and of flowers was thick all around them. He led her up the pathway towards the house, and the flowers were in full bloom all around them.

"My grandfather planted all of these for my grandmother when they first moved here, and over the years, they've just really flourished. He wanted her to be surrounded in flowers...." He saw a man on the front terrace, talking on a muggle cell phone. He had hair that was a lighter brown than Angus's was, wasn't nearly as muscular, and was dressed in an expensively tailored three piece beige linen suit.

"Evan," Angus said to her. "He loves what he calls the 'good life.' I think that life would make me entirely miserable." He led the way up the walk to Evan who finished his phone call.

"Angus," Evan smiled. "It's been...how long?"

"Since Christmas the year before last," Angus said.

"Oh, yeah. That's right."

"Ruby, this is Evan Donohue, my brother. Evan, this is Ruby Tyler, my date."

"Well, finally, Angus has a girlfriend," Evan laughed. "Nice to meet you, Ruby. He's the only one of us who hasn't settled down yet. Anyway, the boat is all ready for you. Here are the keys." He handed Angus a gold key ring with gold keys. "You'll be taking the 53 today."

"Why the devil am I taking the 53?" Angus frowned. "I don't need anything that bloody big."

"Because the others are hired out for the week. It's all I've got. Take it or leave it."

"Oh, fine," Angus sighed. "We'll take it."

"It's out in the first slip. We've moved it up for you. It's fueled up with a full tank and fully stocked, and yes, I had the house opened, refreshed and fully stocked. You shouldn't need for a thing. Will you want the maid on Thursdays?"

"No, no maid. We can manage to pick up after ourselves, but thanks all the same."

"You do realize that will leave you with no one on the island until you decide to leave, right?"

"Sounds perfect," Angus said. "I don't want to see anyone else until I decide to leave. That's the whole idea."

"Radio in when you dock so I can tell Edward you arrived safely," Evan said. Angus bristled that Evan didn't call Edward as Grandfather. Angus felt it was blatant disrespect, but Evan had never been that close to Edward because he was so very different from Edward.

"We will," Angus said, as Evan's cell phone rang again. Evan answered it, and Angus took advantage of it to escape Evan. He led her across the yard and down the back yard to the docks where a large 53 foot cabin cruiser awaited them. "There she is, ready and waiting," Angus told her.

Angus laughed out loud.

"You captured him spot on," he said, amused. "That's precisely what he is. You'll meet my other brother, Tyler, at some point. He's not nearly so bad. Tyler runs the vineyard and the olive oil operation. He's much more down to earth. He has no heart for adventure either. He's a farmer through and through, basically. He lives and breathes for wine and olives and olive oil. It's not such a bad thing, but again, it's not my thing. My father saw to it that my sisters married into money, so they're stay at home mums, obligated to produce heirs for their socialite husbands. God, my father has polluted so many lives--except mine, I suppose. Anyway, here we are." He climbed on board and then helped her on as well. Then he plopped down their bags in the main salon and gave her the short tour of the boat and showed her where the helm was.

"This is where I will be for the trip. You're welcome to sit up here with me, or go anywhere on the boat you like--except overboard. That would not be a good thing," he teased. "I'm sure they've put cold drinks in the fridge and probably snacks in the cabinets, so help yourself. I'm going to get us underway."

He left her briefly to go cast off. Once they were free of the dock, he settled in to the helm seat for the trip. The water was as smooth as glass, and Angus didn't foresee any issues.

"I had almost forgotten how much I like this," he told her. "About the only time I get to go boating anymore is when the team goes on holiday. It's one of the things they fall back on most when they take some time off."

"Well, unless the boat breaks down, we should still have some hours of daylight left when we land," he smiled. "Still, if it's starlight you want tonight, I can give you starlight. Have I got an experience for you." He knew he had something for tonight that he was positive she was going to love, but he wasn't going to spoil it.

It was a very smooth sailing, and he docked the boat when they arrived cleanly and smoothly, turning off the engine and pocketing the keys.

"And, so, here we are, all alone for 14 glorious days," he kissed her. "Come with me. Everything you see is ours for now." He went to the salon and got the bags and then led her off the boat and up the dock to show her the lush, green island with tress and flowers and plants of all sorts, and spectacular sand beach all the way around it. At the center of the island was an old Tuscan tower that had had an addition put on it a long, long time ago to make a gorgeous, large home for a large family, and a well kept cobblestone path led up the beach to the house. He chucked the bags onto the sand, took her face in his hands and kissed her slowly, unbuttoning her blouse.

"I don't plan on wasting a single moment," he said to her softly.