LONDON CALLING

Ruby chukled and nodded " I understand , she's bonded to you thats normal your well her protector when there not around , like a favorate uncle, and I like that about it, but don't worry, I'll start the prep for breakfast " she said and smiled " you did your bit let me do mine" she smiled at him and kissed his cheek. to her he felt warm but it was nothing from having a hot three year old on his shoulder most of the day. " you go have your run, I'll have the prep work done so all that has to happen is the finishing touches in the morning , all right." she softly told him. " everyone will understand, now go please" she said softly again before turning and heading in to start the breakfast prep of fresh made musili greek youguart with fresh berrys or honey to add. She also made some breakfast biritos for those who wante something hot and to go.

" Hes gon for a run" she said to Kate as she moved to the kitchen to take out some tortiias to ad the mixture of rice beans and egg to the center so all she ahd to do that morning was roll them and heat them for those who wanted them. Nest she took rolled oats and placed them in a bowl added fruit and nuts then left it in the frigde so it was ready to place on the table. " She paused to think about what else she could prep ready for brekfast.

"Thanks, Ru. What would I ever do without you?" He kissed her forehead. "I was sort of kicking myself for being frustrated with Brian for taking her from me when she didn't want to go. Anyway, thanks for taking care of breakfast. I'm gonna go run, and then I'll probably go straight home and shower. I feel grungy after her fever broke and I was still holding her. I really need a shower before I get too tired. When you're ready to come home, either just apparate home or let me know, and I'll come over and walk back with you so you don't have to walk over in the dark by yourself."

Angus really needed a run. He couldn't remember the last he had been allowed to run, and then, he placed it. It was before the wolves had mauled his shoulder weeks and weeks ago. He hadn't been allowed to do much of any sort of exercise to train because of it. And so he decided he needed to probably do a shorter run since he hadn't been able to train or exercise and he hadn't warmed up before left on this run. He only ran about halfway and then apparated to the duplex instead of going back to the main house.

He took a long, lingering shower, and then, feeling thirsty, he went downstairs and got a cold soda from the fridge. He popped the top on it and went upstairs, shoved a couple extra pillows behind him so he could stretch out on the bed, sitting up, and leaning back against the headboard, and stared up, just gazing up through the skylight at the stars, with no lights on in the bedroom but a couple of dim lights on the mantel above the kiva fireplace. More light would dim his ability to see the stars, and he didn't want that. He shivered, and he attribute it to the night breeze.

His mind wandered to children. What would their children be like? He didn't really care if it was a boy or a girl as long as it was healthy. But--if he could have his wish, he wanted a little girl first, and then, a boy. He didn't know why, but he wanted one of each--at least for now. He was wondering what their children would look like, trying to stay awake in case Ruby wanted him to walk her home, but his eyes fluttered shut without him realizing it, his lack of sleep finally besting him.

Now with breakfast ready to just cook in the morning Ruby cleaned up and aperated to the duplex opening the door she re locked it and headed up placing some Ince cream in the freezer for if Angus wanted any. Walking into their room she smiled seeing him asleep already. Quickly she showered and dressed in her PJ's then lay down next to him pulling the covers up gently so not to wake him, then she lay her head down as she loked up at the stars abouve them and the milkyway twinkling in the night sky. Soon she felt her self turn on her side and cuddle against him as she too fell asleep.

The next morning she woke and streched before smiling and looking at Angus " good morning" she said smiling as she kissed his cheek then headed to hower ready for the mornings work " did you sleep okay?" she asked walking in in her joggers and work out top a towel over her shoulders as she dried her hair.

Angus woke still sitting on the bed, still wearing his robe. He had clearly slept sitting up all night.

"I must have gone completely comatose," he said. "The last I remember was sitting down and telling myself I wasn't going to drift off in case you wanted me to walk you home, and here it is morning already. I must have slept like a corpse. I didn't hear you come in, nothing. I must have been ridiculously tired. I guess I'd better get a move on and get dressed and get to work.

"I wonder how Abbey did overnight. I hope she's a little better. I lost a day yesterday, and it was necessary. I can't lose too many days like that though. I have to order groceries and supplies today, and there are a hundred other things to do. If Abbey needs me to hold her all day again, I might have to root out one of her old baby slings and resize it. I should just order a toddler sling, but I didn't think I'd need it. I'm hoping she's made enough improvement that she isn't quite so clingy today."

Angus heard cheerful whistling outside and he went to the french doors and looked out. It made him laugh gently.

"Edward's up," Angus said. "It's not even light yet, and he's out in the garden already. When he whistles like that and is out in the garden, that lets me know he is truly happy. This house and Simone are good for him. He hasn't been this happy since before my grandmother got sick, and that was decades ago."

Ruby smiled and moved to sit wit him while he spoke " Im assumbing she slept fine as nothing came to say other wise, and besides you needed it, I got home okay, aperated just as you said" she told him heering teh whistle she moved with him to the balconey and slipped her arm around his waist " yeah he realy is happier now hes cose to people who respect and love him for who he is not what he has." she told Angus " oh and breakfast is prepped I can take care of that after my run." she as she kissed his cheek " go check on Abby if you want." she told him as she finished drying her hair.

"WE'LL BE DOWN IN A MOMENT!" She called to Edward and laughed as he put a thumbs up to her that he'd heard her. " now I realy should take my run or Brian will make me do ten push ups instead" she chuckled moving to him she kissed him deeply " have I told you I love you and your the most hansomest man I have ever met" she said smiling to him.

"Thanks. I owe you one for taking care of breakfast. I think you're right. He's happy because we don't need his money, and he doesn't have Benjamin moving his stuff into Edward's house and moving Edward's stuff out. God, he was an ass." He smiled when she kissed him. "I love you too. I know I don't tell you nearly enough, but your face is the only one I want to see when I open my eyes in the morning, and its the only one I want to see when I close my eyes at night." He kissed her. "And if I don't get going, I won't make it over to the main house, and you won't make it to go work out." He sighed. "I'll catch up with you at breakfast--maybe."

He went downstairs and over to the main house. Someone had turned on the coffee and the tea. He could smell the fresh coffee, and it smelled heavenly. He went upstairs and found Kate sleeping on the window seat in Abbey's room, and Abbey was curled up tight t her, sound asleep. Angus was not about to disturb them. He left the room, closing the door, and he turned to see Brian in the hallway.

"She's doing a lot better. Her fever is just a couple degrees now, thank goodness, and the itching has stopped. She still the rash, but Kate told me she fed Abbey in the middle of the night, and Abbey ate a scrambled egg, a piece of toast, and the ice cream Ruby made her. That's a huge improvement from where she was. I think you're off the hook for Abbey-duty today."

"I didn't mind," Angus said.

"I know, and Khaat knows, and we're both very grateful. It wasn't lost on either of us that she's came to you because she spends so much time with you. Thank you so much for being such a huge part of her life."

"It's my great pleasure. I love every minute of it."

"Well, thanks anyway. Do you have any time to run a couple errands for Khaat today?"

"Yeah, sure. What do you need?"

"Well, she's got several packages to drop off at Sparks, and I really don't want Marcus to have to go any farther than he has to. Of course, he isn't going to stay home, but he's going with her to St. Mungo's today. Khaat's going to be in her office all day, I think, and that will allow him to be able to be off his feet for the large part of the day."

"I'll be happy to," Angus said. "Suppose Jonathan's new candy wands are on sale there yet?"

"Supposedly, yes," Brian said. "But I haven't heard if they're selling yet."

"I'll check on them while I'm there."

"Oh, and a package came for you early this morning from London. I put it in your room in your nightstand. Was a small package."

"Okay. Thanks," Angus said. "Where are the packages for Sparks?"

"In my office on the desk."

"Okay. I'll get them."

"Khaat and I will be at St. Mungos today. I ended up on a day shift today because they're short handed due to this virus," Brian said. "Robert's planning on going in perhaps on second shift to make sure they have a handle on it. I think he's hoping to make some large batches today of Nigel's potion since Abbey responded so well, so he'll be here if you need him."

"Okay. I'll take the stuff to Sparks shortly and get that done."

"Okay," Brian said. Angus went downstairs, got the packages from Brian's office and put them all into a large canvas tote bag. Then he took the bag into the kitchen, fed Fudge, and got himself a mug of coffee. He checked the fridge and the pantry and saw what Ruby was planning for breakfast. That would be fine. It wouldn't take long to set it out, but since most of the house was still sleeping, it was still a little too early to set breakfast out. That gave him time for a a little coffee in the quiet.

Ruby smiled at Angus words and returned his kiss " as you are in my every thought" she told him " but unfortunatly your right I should go run" she said and put her damp hir up in a bun so it would stay out of her face while she ran. Putting on her running shoues she watched him leave to the main house then took off on one of the easier runs so not to tire her self out for the rest of the day. Returning to the main house she felt like she'd run a marathon " gesh who made those runs , that was not an easy one" she said poring some water for herself.

Jess chuckled as she sw Ruby " I think it was brian and yes , that is the easiest of them all" she told her Ruby just looked at her in astonishment " wait till you do the next its even harder but you'll get use to them." she picked up a newspaper and sighed " more about the virus " she said " as if were not swamped enough." folding it she placed it down on the table as she moved to get a cup of coffee for herself feeling teh need for caffine this morning.

"That would be Robert, actually," Angus laughed. "You'd never know he was in his sixties, would you? He designed them, and Brian and I put them in. They're better now that they're paved and lit."

"That virus has the entire staff running ragged," Robert sighed, coming in. "And our staff is getting it now too. Some of them are getting really sick, with high fevers and that ridiculous rash from head to toe. And--here's a new bit--we actually are starting to get some that have a rash in rainbow colors. They have spots on all kinds of colors--some red spots, green spots, orange spots, purple. I have no idea what's causing that little variation. Gonna have to get with Nigel and some of the healers in other countries and see if they've seen it or if they know anything. In the meantime, we need to curtail our activities outside of the estate because the last thing we need is to have it running through this lot."

"Do you know how its being transmitted yet?

"Probably through the air, like most viruses are, by the sounds of it," Robert said, pouring himself a mug of tea.

"Well, I'm going to Sparks this morning for Brian. Does anyone need anything while I'm out?"

"I'm out of cigarettes," Robert said. "Do you mind running around the corner to Horizont Alley to the tobacconist for me? He knows what I like. Get a couple cartons so I have some for awhile, would you?"

"Certainly," Angus said. "You haven't bought any cigarettes for a long time."

"No, that carton was one I bought, not this past December, but the December before. They've lasted me 21 months."

"Well, at 200 cigarettes per carton, that carton, that's nine cigarettes a month."

"Yeah, well, I admit I hit them a little harder during the wizarding influenza outbreak a 18 months ago," Robert said.

"Well, those were probably getting pretty stale."

"They were. I pitched the last pack because they were so nasty," he laughed.

"I'll have fresh ones for you by lunchtime."

"Good man. Thank you."

"Alright. Coffee's gone. I'm going to head out to Sparks and the tobacconist," he said, picking up the canvas tote bag. He kissed Ruby's cheek. "See you by lunchtime." He apparated out.

Ruby groaned at hearing it was Rober how designed the runs as did Jess who then chuckled . She looked at Robert as he spoke of the rashs being diferent colours on diferent people " hum thats weird" she said " well I have early shift so will see you all later. Ruby smiled as Angus kissed her cheek " of course, stay safe" she said and watched him aperate out knowing he would always stay safe.

" maybe its mutating in some people depending on their magic abilitys, but I agree Nigel and his people should be brought in, I've had to bring extra nurses into the emergancy room to cover." she said " and the worst part its not even my job to do that, I was just told to deal with it and get it sorted."

Ruby shook her head then chuckled " well I think your doing an amazing job keeping those people healthy" she said Jess sighed as she siped her coffee.

"some days it dosn't feel like it." she said " but when I see a young child bounce back and smile after being nearly bed ridden I get hope."

An owl landed on the windowsill, and Robert went over to the window, fed the owl, and took the envelope. He opened the envelope and read it.

"Oh, lovely," Robert groaned. "Message from Paris. They did a last minute mission at three this morning, and they rescued 13 kids. That's the good part. The bad part is that every one of them have the virus, and the Paris office has no way to treat them. Son of a biscuit eater. Well, I guess I'm doing a rush job on Nigels' potion and then sending it by floo to Paris. So that's gonna be my morning, clearly."

The early morning air felt chilly to Angus this morning, so when he landed n London outside Sparks, he transfigured his tee shirt to a flannel shirt and then rolled up the sleeves part way. Then he made his way into Sparks, left the packages, and got waylaid by Lizzie who wanted him to try their new summer soups and a couple of their summer pies before putting them on the menu.