LONDON CALLING

Jessie looked at Brian then at the book as it turned back to its nearly new state " how could I forget" he said then saw the move Brian had made, using his knight he took the pawn and waited for Brian knowing it was an easy move he'd made.

Ruby looked at Kate and then looked at Abby " shall we?" she asked " becuse I think thts a perfect supper, you know they say fish is good for the brain, makes you think better." she said " what about Raw Rainbow Wraps with Ginger Tahini Dressing?" she said taking down a folder off a shelf in Angus's room and showing her the recipy.

Brian was amused that Jessie had indeed seen the move and had countered. He was glad it wasn't going to be a simple game. He studied the board and decided to move one of his pawns instead into a position that would help to block Jessie from his queen.

"I think that recipe sounds fine," Kate said. "Everyone here loves salmon, and it's amazingly healthy. What about a quinoa pilaf instead of rice since its so much healthier. Maybe with some stir fry vegetables? We could divide the vegetables and put some in the wrap and some in the quinoa pilaf. If we use a different sauce on the pilaf than the wraps, no one will even mind they're getting lots of fresh vegetables."

Robert was thinking of the sleepover in the tree house that Abbey had mentioned. He took Jack aside, and told him about it.

"I have two concerns, Jack," Robert said. "First and foremost, security. I would want to know that they're safe--all night. You do more night patrols than anyone. What do you recommend so we know they're well guarded all night? And second, we'd need to get air mattresses and sleeping bags and some sort of light source. Maybe some fairy light enchantments or something girly? Can maybe you and Jess come up with something nice up there and some pick up of a about five million toys? I know Ruby's been really lonely since Angus has been gone. She could use a bit of a lift, if you know what I mean."

Jess smiled and nodded as she stood with Jack " I know what you mean" she said smiling " we'll get to it right away" she whispered as they went and gathered what was needed. Both smiling as they heade to the tree house to decorate and set it up so Ruby and Abby could spend the night out together.

Ruby smiled and chuckled as she helpped Abby bake the star shapped busicuits.

Kate worked on cleaning vegetables for supper and then worked on her quinoa pilaf and getting things prepped for the stir fry. She made the ginger glaze for the salmon and then she put the salmon in the oven to roast and got out Angus's huge wok and stir fried the vegetables. She took out half the vegetables to reserve them for the wraps and added the cooked quinoa pilaf to the rest of the vegetables to stirfry the pilaf just a little for texture. When it was all finished, she dished up the pilaf in a large, colorful crockery bowl, and then she made up a large stack of the salmon wraps, tucking in crunchy vegetables and the ginger sauce. She wrapped up each wrap in foil so each one would stay hot. Then she set the dishes up in the dining room on the sideboard, setting out some crunch chow mein noodles for anyone that wanted any, some iced tea, lemonade, ice water, and sodas. She even found that Angus had a tin of fortune cookies. She poured some of the fortune cookies into a bowl and put those out as well. It had all gone relatively quickly once the vegetable prep was done.

On the train, Brian checked the clock and realized it was almost time to go to supper. He took a break from the chess game to change into his tux. In their compartment, Michael and Angus were already changed and enjoying their drinks over just some simple conversation.

Ruby and Abby finished thecookies and had tehm cooling as Jess and Jck walked back in smiling " alls done Robert " she sid Jack nodded " got some of my night freinds to keep watch" he said then moved to Kate " could you ask your owl buddies to watch over them tonight?" he whispeed in her ear so Ruby and Abby didn't hear. Stepping back he waited as Jess watched Ruby and Abby put sprinckles on the cookies.

Now taking her hand she gently moved over the top of them and smiled to Kate the sprinkles gave a soft glow and tiny sparks drifted up from them. " a trick I learned , think its the same one Robert uses" she said to her its more dramatic in the dark. " she said chukaling.

Kate nodded. She could tell the owls exactly what to look for and how to alert the night patrols or to come and alert her at the very first sign of trouble. She would go talk to them right after supper. She knew Archangel. He was eager to be helpful. And, although he wasn't nocturnal, she believed he would likely fly up to the treehouse and stay with them all night. Even if he slept up there, he would surely hear and wake if there was any trouble. And Kate could recognize Archangel's cry from any other bird around just because she knew him that well.

"Your cookies look great," She told Ruby and Abbey. "And I think that really is the same charm Papa uses, Abbey. Those are going to look great up in the treehouse tonight. Are you guys hungry? Supper's ready. I think you should come and eat so that you can have a longer evening in the treehouse. Maybe Ruby would read you a storybook."

"Yeah!" Abbey was excited. "Rooby likes books!"

"Are you sure?" Kate asked, teasing Abbey just a little. Abbey wasn't buying it. She nodded, sure that Ruby liked books. "Well, come eat, then so you can have some storybook time."

"We gots noodos?" Abbey asked, as the others started to come in for supper.

"No, no noodles tonight. We have salmon, and I know you like that."

"Wazzat?"

"Pink fishy," Robert said, knowing Abbey-speak. "You like pink fishy." Abbey nodded. "So that's what we're eating--pink fishy." She nodded.

Jess chuckled and nodded " yep they will" Ruby smiled too and nodded she did like books.

"yep I like books a lot, you know they can take you to diferent places just by reading them, you can be a pirate on a ship in one or a princess in another." she said whe she heard Kate say super was ready she moved both of them to the sink " okay wash up" she said turning the tap on so Abby could wash her hands. Ruby washed hers and then dried hers and Abbys beore taking he to the table " oh yes , pink fishy is yummy, good for you too" she said as Jess sat down next to her.

Jess stood dressed in his tux as he tried to do up his tie and failing , he looked at Brian " um..can you help , please?" he asked holding up the two ends of the limp tie. " seems dexsterity is not my forte" he said trying to smoth out his unrully hair so they could go eat and he would at least look respectable. " wish Kaden ws here, he'd know how to do this thing." He turned back to the mirror and looked at himself. " its all window dressing isn't , its what lays beneath that matters " he gave a sigh " and I actedlike my father, thats wrong, I...I shouldn't be like that." he said frowning but keeping his composure.

Edward and Simone liked the wraps because they were so different, and they really did like the quinoa pilaf because it was so highly nutritious. Abbey didn't have a bit of problem with the wrap, and she actually ate the better part of a whole one by herself. She didn't eat much of the pilaf, but that didn't bother Kate since she had eaten so much of the wrap.

"How's the duplex coming?" Robert asked.

"Almost finished," Edward said. "Angus and Ruby's half will be finished by late afternoon tomorrow. Ours might take another day or two, but that's alright. Our priority was on finishing their half because of Angus's coming home tomorrow."

"Did we decide if we're doing a nice dinner tomorrow?" Simone asked.

"Simone makes an incredible beef welllington that she could fix," Edward said.

"That sounds great," Kate said. "I bet Ruby and Jess and I could put the sides and the dessert together. What do you think? Do you all like beef wellington?"

"Let me show you something," Brian said. He cast a glamour spell, and it tied Jessie's tie, and straightened his somewhat unruly hair and just freshened up his look overall. "Go see what you think." He listened to Jessie mention that his behavior was like his father's. "Well, I think you need to figure out why you think you need to do that. It isn't a new behavior, not for it to be as engrained as it is. You're right, though. It does need to stop. Alright, no more negative talk. Let's go to dinner. We're actually a couple minutes late."

He took one last glance around the compartment to make sure no magical items were out, and he headed to the dining car, leaving the door open for Jessie to follow him

Ruby looked at Kate and nodded " Im sure we could come up with something and these wraps are delishious." she said taking and eating another. " what about Herby Roast Potatoes or a green salad with a Carrot Puree on the side." she sugested as she finished her food.

Jessie looked at brain as he cast a spell then turned to look in the mirror to see himself smart and prressed " nice" he said then nodded his agreement " I agree , I'll put it aside untill I can talk to some one when were home, maybe ask Robert to find some one to help me understand why, more, and I will beat you in chess one day/" he watched as Brain moved to the door and he moved to it too loking out he didn't see anyone else and folloed him to the dinning car where they were seated.

Supper on the train was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences, but they'd had another one of those because their first supper on the train, on the way here, had been just as good. Brian really had no complaints. He was fortunate. He was always surrounded with good food. Even when he worked, he generally had good food. The food at St. Mungo's was some of the best in wizarding England, thanks to Khaat hiring a gourmet chef to make sure the food was good. The food at the ministry, well, that was another story. But Angus, at times, would pack him a five star lunch to take, if Brian believed he could get lunch.

Brian enjoyed tonight's meal, but he really wanted to be home. He missed Khaat and Abbey. He did love the adventure, but, by the same token, now that he had a wife and a daughter, he loved having a family. Khaat had been living with him now not quite four years, and they had been married now for almost three. He felt like he wanted to do something special in February for Valentines Day for their anniversary when it came around. The traditional gift was leather, and with their love of southwestern decor and art, that gave him a lot of options.

"I think there is a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle in Angus's game box," Brian said. "I think we ought to get it and see if we can challenge ourselves to get that sucker done before we pull into the station tomorrow night at about this time. We've got about 24 hours left on this train. Jigsaw puzzles are good brain training for being observant and doing some problem solving. I think we're smart enough. What do you think?"