LONDON CALLING

Ruby smile when they stood up and were shown to the court yard she smiled wider when she saw her brothers who ran over to her and huged her tight " been a long time" they said together but Ruby nodded.

"so where is he this guy you married?" Sam asked Ruby looked over at Angus and took both there hands in her own walking them over to him " boys this is Angus" she said " the love of my life and husband , also father to be" she said smiling Sam was the first to clock on and he laughed and danced around " yes, im going to be an uncle " he dance then stopped " sorry sir" he said smiling " and thank you for helping us out, life was a bit hard before that" he turned on the spot and showed him the gown he now wore and his new clothes. Victor just stood and smiled before he walked over.

" im happy to meet you, Im victor the older brother by three minets" he said holding out his hand to Angus " I have read about the donohues and their werewolf fighting skills, I hope to learn some, but I agree with my brother, thank you for being our benifactor and I can assure you we will not be leaving Hogwarts with out some one being with us from the school." he glanced over at a tall boy stood by the far courner " Thats Albert hes i his last year here so they assinged him to us as sort of a body guard I guess." Victor looked back at Angus " hes okay, Sam says hes fun but well I keep to myself and my books." A large bell ran and Sam and Victor looked at each other " we have to go classes have started, again thank you and we won't let you down sir." they both said and after a quick hug to Ruby they hurried to class.


Ruby knelt in front of Angus and smiled " they like you and thank you, there a bit skinner than I rember but they will fill out" she told him as she kissed his cheek gently. " now thats sorted we should head home

Angus shook hands with each of the boys and greeted them.

"You're very welcome," Angus told them. "Glad I could help. That's what I was taught family should do. The Donohue you mentioned is my grandfather. When you come to stay with us, I'm sure you'll meet him. You know, now that Ruby and I are married, in a way, that makes him your grandfather too. If you need anything, you let us know."

Angus was confused when the bell rang for classes since school wasn't to start for another week. What were the bells for? Oh well, none of his business, he guessed. Then Ruby told him it was time to go home.

"Marcus," Angus motioned to him. Angus wasn't in the mood to go home. He wasn't in the mood to stay at Hogwarts either, but he wasn't in the mood to be taken back and shut back up in the duplex either. He let Marcus take charge and get them out of the school, back in the carriages, back to the station, and then, after they returned the carriages, Marcus apparated them all back to the duplex. Mission accomplished. The boys were safe. He was starting to get frustrated with not being able to go outside because of ruby's father. He sighed.

"Andrew," Angus asked. "would you be kind enough to brew a fresh pot of coffee, please? I guess I'd better get back to work. Marcus, is Tyler outside?" Marcus looked outside carefully.

"Actually, no. He isn't," Marcus frowned. "I wonder where he is."

"Hopefully looking for a place to live," Angus said.

"Can I help you change out of that suit?" Marcus offered.

"Yes, please? I don't need it here," Angus said.

"Certainly," Marcus said. "Excuse us, Ruby." Marcus took Angus upstairs to change.

Ruby smiled as they left the school " they have a kinda extra class for DADA." she told him as they ehaded back to the duplex she could see his frustration etched on his face as they ported back to the duplex " of course " she said " oh Angus how about we go out for our supper" she asked " I hear theres a nice restaraunt called sparks that I haven't been to yet, I hear there food and atmosphere is wonderful" she herd Angus ask Andrew to take him and change him out of his suit " Marcus could you see if Sparks has reservations for two for tonight I get the feeling Angus could use an evening out and away from here." she asked. Hoping it would be confirmed she knew just the dress she wanted to wear.

She tranphigure her dress to a light ball gouwn and her wedges to a low heel to match the dress. Looking at Marcus she smiled " I know your going to have men stationed around the restaraunt but please keep them discreet." she said knowing she didn't have to say anything but she did for her own mind. writing anote to Andrew she asked him to dress him in a light but smary shirt and trouser combo as they would be going out fpr supper. then sent it up to Andrew.

(i'm presuming you're talking about lunch since their appointment at hogwarts was at 10 am.)

Angus was expecting to put his sweats back on, and Marcus told him that Ruby wanted to go out for lunch to Sparks. Well, since Angus had helped in the creation of Sparks and still helped with the creation of dishes for its menu, he knew Sparks was a casual place. Marcus helped him change to a pair of stone colored trousers and a simple pale yellow v neck cashmere sweater that he pushed up the sleeves on, and a pair of deck shoes.

"How are we going to make that work when Robert told us not to make side trips and to come straight back?" Angus asked Marcus.

"Well, you did come straight back," Marcus said with a smile as he helped Angus dress. "You're just going out again for a short bit. I think Ruby noticed how much you really didn't want to be shut in the house again so soon, and she probably thinks its worth the risk to let you out of the house for a bit. Don't worry. I'll have you covered. Since Brian's with Khaat today, I have free time until 5."

"I don't want to be moody, Marcus," he told him.

"Look, Mate, I would be more than a little moody if I were in your shoes. If you weren't so crazy about her, I would tell you it is an incredible mismatch for you to be dating someone like her when her father is a career hit man," he laughed. "That is a ridiculous match up for an auror like you. But in your own way, you've separated her from her father, I think."

"I have," Angus said.

"But even so, you've always been incredibly physically active, and that's not on your plate right now. Not to mention, you're engaged, and you've just found out you're going to be a father--and you can't protect your family the way you want. That's a lot to have to cope with. I can't blame you if it makes you a little cagey, and I don't think she can blame you either. That's why she wants to take the chance to go."

"And if he finds us?"

"We'll deal with it," Marcus said.

"If he comes, protect her first," Angus said.

"I don't think we're going to have to make that sort of a choice," Marcus said. "Why don't you just enjoy your lunch and let me worry about security? After all, I am the protections expert, am I not?"

"Yeah, I know," Angus sighed, trying to relax.

"And then, this afternoon, you can work on the room for your two wards. It'll give you something to do while Ruby works," Marcus said. "Shall we?" He took Angus back downstairs. "I think he's ready for a lunch at the bistro. Nice dress, Ruby."

"I like the dress--very much," Angus told her. "Thanks for thinking about lunch out."

Ruby smiled as she heard Andrew and Angus compliment her dress " thank you" she said and moved to Angus kissing him lightly an admired hi outfit " yours looks perfect" she said smiling " is everything set?" she asked Andrew meaning if sparks had said they had a table avalible for them also meaning his security detail. She picked up hr hand bag and walked over to Angus " would you mind porting us there, please, ive never been so don't know it" she looked sheepish at Andrew.

She knew they would be some were discreat and awy from prying eyes as she knew it would be prime for her fther but she didn't care for tucked under her skirt she had her wand ready to hand should her father turn up. "Andrew please, if ..he turns up, protect Angus I can take care of us." she said looking at Angus " not that he will hes probaly liking his wounds someplace and seething he didn't get what he wanted, always did that when we were small." she told them both .

"I'll be doing the porting," Marcus told her, "and there aren't other guards but me, and, well, Andrew, if he has to step in. Angus is armed, so he isn't entirely helpless either. I appreciate you wanting Angus protected, but I don't plan on losing anyone."

They ported to Sparks, and the staff recognized Marcus and Angus immediately. Khaat and Marcus had mentioned to them Angus's difficulties since Angus hadn't been sending in any new dishes or recipes. They offered Angus "Khaat's table," which was a table near the kitchen doors to allow her to slip into the back if she needed to try to get out rather quickly. That sounded fine to Marcus because the table also allowed him a full view of the restaurant and would allow them to not have to be the center of attention. Marcus and Andrew took the table that was in front of them so that anyone who wanted to get to Angus and Ruby would have to get past Marcus first--which wasn't likely to happen.

It had been a long time since Angus had been in here. He watched as the wait staff still did the animated spark charms to delight the customers, especially the kids. And, Jonathan's spark wand candies were selling well all through the customers' meals so they could do their own spark charms at the table. The place was busy, but then again, it always was at meal time.

Lizzie, the head chef, came out and gave Angus a hug and a friendly peck on the cheek.

"It's about time you came in again," she was delighted. "And is this Ruby that we've all heard so much about? It's about time you brought her in to meet us."

"Hello, Lizzie," Angus smiled. "It is. Ruby, this is Lizzie. She's the head chef here. So, Lizzie, what's your special today?"

"Your Texas brisket sandwiches with barbeque sauce, and chips. Or, an American hot brown."

"A hot brown is an American open faced sandwich, made of turkey, ham, and bacon, covered with cheese, and then a mornay sauce. Sparks serves it on toast made from fresh baked bread, and most people want theirs with mashed potatoes, but you can get what you like," Angus told Ruby.

Ruby felt her self porting and found her self at a lovly homy restaraunt " oh this is wonderful" she said as they were shown to a table by the kitchen and she smiled knowing why that paticuler table. it was now a woman walked over and introduced hersefl to her as Lizzie and she smiled wider "oh its so good to meet you and your the one who brings Angus's recipies to life , there so delishious" she said looking at the other patrons in the restaraunt. She heard Angus ask what the special was that day and she looked at Lizzie " wow that sounds wonderful but not so much the mash " she said with a smile. 

She looekd to Angus and smikled " if its okay with you I'll have one of those and some fruit juice, can't do alcahol at least not for nine months." she said cashualy as she looked at the menu in front of her.Then she looked at Angus " feeling relaxed?" she asked with a smile " I know I am and am going to enjoy the marvolus food and wonderful atmoshpher this place has, Khaat and your self realy have done a wonderful job." she sat back and waited for the food and drink to arrive.

After a while Ruby spoke again " what do you think they will call the new foal?" she asked " what about Dakota, its a strong name for a male foal" she said trying to keep the talk away from her father and stressful matters.

"Well, thank you," Lizzie said to Ruby, "but by the time his recipes get to me, he's got them so perfected and well organized that they're easy to make. He's a perfectionist in the kitchen, that one, but I bet you know that already."

"What are your soups today, Lizzie?" Angus asked.

"Ah, well, now, there, I took a liberty or two today. We've got a kettle of cockaleekie, a pot of mullagatawny, and a fresh vegetable soup," she told them.

"I'll have the brisket sandwich," Angus said. "And do put the tab for Marcus's table on mine, please."

"I'll do no such thing," she said. "Your tab and theirs is on the house. It's a delight just having you back. And save room for dessert. I'll send you both a dessert flight."

"Sounds fine."

"Now, she's drinking juice. What are you having?"

"I'd really like a pint of a stout."

"Coming right up," she smiled, hurrying back to the kitchen.

"Sparks was Khaat's idea," Angus said. "She opened it back before she married her first husband, but after she came to live with us, Brian and I have plunged right in with her. It was a lot of fun, testing new recipes for Lizzie to make good use of whatever was seasonal. I did need to get out of the house. Thanks, Ru."

"I hadn't thought about names yet," Angus smiled when she mentioned the foals. "Those unicorns have been trying for a long time to have a foal. I'm glad that's finally happened for them. They lost a foal, not this past winter but the winter before. We weren't sure they were going to be able to have another, so I'm hoping I get to see this one up close before its full grown.

"Changing subjects, what do you think about lofting the beds in the room for your brothers? That would allow us to put in some comfortable furniture for them, like some decent club chairs or a loveseat and a chair maybe, some bookshelves, or some things for them to do on rainy or snowy days. Some place that maybe they'd like to be."

Ruby listened as he explained about Sparks and how it was started " well its a great place , you all should be proud." she listened again when he spoke of the unicorns losing a foal" then they are truely bessed to have had another and one so hansome." she said unfolding her napkin to place on her knee. As she did he spoke of the room for her brothers and she chuckled "I think they would love that idea , one side for Sam and the other for Victor with a book shelf." she said " Sams could have maps and stuff like that, he is a griffindoor after all and Victor is a ravenclaw so books , oh I have a feeling he's going to spend all his time in Roberts library." she chuckled " and we both needed this, to get out and just be us." she said softly as she took his hand in hers across the table.  " I love seeing you relaxed and not tensed and I had a feeling this was the perfect place to get you to relax." she smiled catching Marcus out the courner of her eye smiling as well.

As the food and drink arrived Ruby relaxed too smiling as she listened to the noise and chatter around her. Loving how everyone loved to be in Sparks and have the good food.

"Your brothers need some sense that they belong somewhere," he said to Ruby, knowing how Sam and Victor were probably were feeling right about now. "I don't want their room to be just a guest room with two beds. They need to know they belong."

Lizzie brought their meals herself, glad to serve them.

"Here's your hot brown, Ruby," Lizzie said. "And since you didn't order the mash, I brought you a dish of our berry salad. Khaat put it on the menu in honor of Abbey, but everyone seems to like the originality of having a mixed berry salad with a sparkling dressing."

"The dressing is a reduction of the mixed berry juice with a simple syrup with some basil mixed in, and just a bit of a sparkling water," Angus told Ruby. "I did it for Abbey's birthday last year, and everyone loved it. So Khaat brought the recipe here."

"And, so you know, I did these brisket sandwiches with that bourbon barbeque sauce you sent me," Lizzie told him as she served his brisket sandwich.

"You did? That's a great idea," he said. "I hadn't thought of using it for the brisket."

"Well, we're calling it our Chuck Wagon sandwich, and I wasn't sure the name would work because I doubted many wizards had seen many cowboy movies, but clearly I was wrong. They all seem to understand the name play, and just about any time we serve one, someone at the table has to do a cowboy imitation," she laughed.

"I refuse to do that," he told her. "But, if you want to run a promotion, I'll get you a genuine ten gallon cowboy hat, and you can give a free dessert to anyone who orders a brisket sandwich and does a cowboy imitation." She laughed out loud at the idea.

"You're on," she said. "You can get us a real cowboy hat?"

"Not a problem," Angus said. "I'll get it to you."

"Will Khaat care?"

"Not if she can come and watch," Angus said.