LONDON CALLING

"I'd probably rather you not leave Little Miss Abbey naked," Angus laughed. "Clothes for her are probably a bigger priority, thanks." Ruby didn't waste any time in getting bags and getting his chair.

"Thank you," Angus told her. "I'm sure you did fine. I know the boys probably could have gone back to Brian's but I'd just rather have them here with us. Besides, they can be really good help. I'm sure Abbey probably does have some clothes here in the room they've fixed up for her but it never hurts to bring a change of clothes anyway. One thing about it, as long as Kate and Khaat buy clothes for Abbey like they do, if we end up with a girl, we would never have to buy her a stitch of clothes. She's got entire trunks of clothes here and at Brian's that she's grown out of, and a lot of them never got the tags off them. They're brand spanking new and haven't ever been worn."

Robert excused himself to go see if there was anything that needed done before supper, and Andrew came in from the kitchen a moment later and handed Angus a fresh cup of coffee.

"How'd you know I was thinking about that?" Angus asked.

"I know you," Andrew laughed. "Besides, there's a little bit of a short acting energy potion. It only lasts three or four hours, and then when it wears off, whatever fatigue you have then will be fully upon you, so don't overdo it just because you feel a bit better."

"Understood," Angus said. "Is Ian doing okay with supper?"

"If I go just by what they're cooking, it looks like he's feeding about 150 people,' Andrew laughed. "If someone leaves supper hungry, that's entirely their own fault. But that's probably good because Sam and Victor are complaining that they're starving. They sound like they're about ready to go chew on a piece of furniture."

Ruby smiled at Angus and chukled when he spoke of Abby staying naked. She smiled at him when he spoke of their baby " as long as its helthy I don't mind boy or girl but your probably right , we don't have to worry about baby clothing." she said setting the normal chair next to him so he could get to it when he wanted just as Andrew walked in with coffee she smiled as he gave it to Angus  " well their bags are just there when they are ready.

"I don't know abut them but I am hungry too" she said hearing her stomach rumble loudly. "It ll smells so wonderful and yummy." ruby said watching as Angus drank his coffee listening to Andrew tell him about the slight energy potion he'd added to it.

It wasn't long before Robert summoned everyone to a supper outside under the stars. Andrew helped Angus to his outdoor chair and helped him outside.

The catering crew had used the reception dining tables for supper. They'd used traditional red and white checked tablecloths that were pretty much standard in most casual Italian restaurants, along with the standard red glass candles. Natalie and her crew had floated rustic looking enchanted lanterns over the dining area, and it looked fabulous. There were carafes of water and open bottles of wine already on the tables, along with baskets of garlic bread, and every place had a beautiful Italian antipasti salad already there and waiting.

Angus was only a bit sad that he hadn't been able to cook the meal himself but it was a good consolation that he had had such a good friend in Ian that had taken on the task. Robert had gone back to Brian and had brought Michael and Lee and Nigel for supper, and Angus was glad to see Michael was starting to get some color back in his face. Sam and Victor moved a place setting to the end of the table so that Angus chair fit easily at the end of the table, and Victor took the place at the end since it gave him more room with his own leg issues.

Before everyone ate, the alcoholic and non alcoholic wine was poured, and Robert looked at Angus for silent permission to offer the toast instead of having Angus do it tonight while Angus was so knackered. Angus nodded, not bothered by Robert's offer to take on the task. Robert stood with his glass.

"I am honored by the opportunity to give one last toast to my very dear friends before their lives change tomorrow for the better," Robert said. "I cannot tell you know very glad we are to have Donohues as part of our ever growing little band of misfits. Welcome to the family, Edward and Simone, and on behalf of all of us here, I am pleased to give this last toast to your single lives as you surrender it tomorrow for what we believe will be decades yet of much happiness and joy. Congratulations, Edward and Simone." Everyone raised their glasses to Edward and Simone.

"Papa," Abbey piped up as everyone was taking a sip of their wine. "We eats now?" People laughed, and Robert looked at her.

"Yes," Robert said. "As Abbey says, we eats now! Tuck in and enjoy, Everyone."

Angus looked at Ruby and the boys, "You should expect this to be served in several courses. The next course will be probably pasta. There might be soup too. Then the main course will be served. It'll be some sort of meat and vegetable entree. There will be a cheese and fruit course after that, and then a dessert course, followed a serving of espresso or tea, and then the final course is usually a small glass of some sort of alcoholic digestive drink. I presume Ian will also offer some sort of non alcoholic option for those who don't want alcohol. but you should expect a total of seven courses. The portions will be relatively small so you don't get full on the first course, but spare yourself, because i guarantee you it will be five star all the way."

Ruby stayed at Angus's side as they moved outside hearing the supper was ready. Stepping out she smiled and marvelled at how pretty it all looked. Once sat she heard Robert give a toast she reatched down and took his hand in her own as she listened. Once Robert was done she heard Angus explain about the meal " wow I don't think I could eat that much" she said but heard him say the potions would be small " phew"   she said sipping her non alcaholic wine.

"im sure it will be delishious, but I have to say I prefer when you cook " she said softly to him as she kissed his cheek gently before sitin back in her chair to wait.

"Well, thank you," Angus said to her, "I was hoping to do this supper for them, but I can do one for them when they get home. You know, the last time I saw Edward this happy was when my grandmother was alive. If you and I are half as happy as they seem to be, then I think things for us will be pretty darned incredible.

"Wait," Sam said, "you said this was an anti-pasta. So salad is what you eat to undo the pasta?" Angus burst out laughing.

"No, no, no," Angus said. "Nice guess, but no. Translated into English, Anti means before, and pasti means meal. So its the course that comes before the meal or at the beginning of a meal, like an appetizer."

"Oh," Sam said. "I get it now."

"I like this salad. Is it hard to make?" Victor asked.

"No. Not at all," Angus said.

"Can we have it more often at our house?"

"If you like," Angus said. "Of course."

"Aggie?" Abbey called from her place between Sam and Victor. "Wassit?" she pointed to a little white ball in her salad.

"Cheese," he told her. "Just cheese." She picked out the little ball of cheese with her fingers and popped it into her mouth and ate it.

"Cheese!" she nodded happily. She pointed to the meat in her salad. "Cow?"

"And pig" he replied. "It's pepperoni, like on pizza." She looked at her questioningly. "I wouldn't lie to you," he laughed. She ate a bit of pepperoni and looked at him.

"Okay" she said, satisfied for the moment.

"She knows a lot for a little kid," Sam said to Ruby and Angus.

"She does. If she asks a question, I always try to answer her honestly," he replied. He settled in with his salad, and as he was eating an owl came and flew over and dropped a message almost right in his salad. He looked at the envelope, and it was addressed to him. He opened it. It was from Evan.

"Um," he looked at Ruby and then spoke quietly to her. "Evidently there is a small change of plans, Ru. We're going to have more guests tomorrow. My 2 brothers and 2 sisters are coming, and their spouses, and apparently so are Edward's two brothers and two sisters--my great uncles and aunts--and their spouses, and that means that we could end up with my two uncles and three aunts and their spouses. That could be another 26 people or more. I'm sure Ian can adjust, but I might need to make another cake overnight. Either that or we'll have to cut it in smaller pieces tomorrow. I know Edward didn't expect them, but he isn't going to tell them not to come either."

Ruby smiled as both Abby and Sam asked about the meal. " I like it," she said then saw the letter arrive and Angus read it. She listened to him and bit her lip gently "so about eight more people? I'm sure things will be fine." she said smiling" they all get along anyway, I hope" she said the last part softly as she knew how some of Angus's brothers were towards him. " I do hope they will be on their best behaviour" she held his hand again gently needing some suport at the thought of more pepole ariving so close to the day. "

"will they be staying here or just arriving on the day?" she asked wondering how and where they would stay for the night.

"No," he said. "About 26 more. That's over double what we planned for. Evan says they're just coming for tomorrow. They should be arriving by about 1 pm tomorrow." Angus managed to catch Ian's eye and motioned to him. Ian came over and Angus whispered in his ear and showed him the letter. Ian whispered a reply back in Angus's ear and then took the letter and went to Natalie to show the letter to her so that both the catering crew and the decorators could adjust.

"Ian thinks we'll be fine with the food," Angus told Ruby. "I'll get together with him after supper, and we'll discuss the cake. I might have Andrew take him over to Brian's to my office and they can get the cake and the topper and bring it over. I really don't want to have to bake a second wedding cake, but I will if I have to."

"You gonna have the energy for all that?" Victor asked him.

"I don't know," Angus said. "That's what Ian and I are going to discuss."

As the antipasti course ended, Ian's people cleared away the salad dishes and began to serve cups of Italian Wedding soup and plates of manicotti, each plate holding two manicotti and a beautiful red sauce with big hearty shavings of fresh parmesan cheese.

"Italian wedding soup. He read my mind," Angus smiled. "I'm glad to see that make an appearance. Perfect."

"Why is it called wedding soup?" Sam asked.

"Because of how well the meat and the vegetables work together in the stock. There's a saying in the kitchen when ingredients go well together that they marry well. So that's where it comes from," Angus explained. "But its still nice to see it here tonight."

Ruby stopped and placed down her drink " how many!" she said "WOW" she listened to him tell her how many would show up then watched as Ian walked over to them and he whispered to him about the note "okay it might mean a few..nope a lot more chairs to go out." she looked over at Nataliehoping she would have some sort of idea how to accommodate the extra people who were coming. she listened to Angus and shook her head " why not just add a larger plain layer on the bottom?" she suggested as she watched them place some soup in front of her.

Once she was done she sat back " it was nice" she said, but I think our baby doesn't like it even if I do." she said taking a sip of water to settle her stomach.

"I'm going to get with Natalie after supper too," Angus said. "I thought your medication was supposed to take care of some of the side effects of those hormones adjusting. Sounds like it isn't working."

At that point, Natalie got up from her place and came over and leaned down and whispered in Angus's ear. She patted his shoulder reassuringly, and after a moment of discussion with Angus, she went back to her place at the table.

"Apparently, she thinks they can handle this without us. They will adjust the seating overnight, and she and Ian believes they'll be fine so long as they can get the cake tonight. I'll see if someone can take Ian and one of his sioux chefs over to get the cake an the topper. Maybe Brian or Khaat can let them into my office since they'll be going home tonight anyway," Angus said.

The main course for the supper was a choice of chicken piccata or Italian style grilled shrimp. That was followed by a beautiful fresh fruit salad, and then by three different sorts of Italian dessert to choose from--there was a lovely budino--which were light and creamy flan sorts of custards. There was a cassata cake--which was a light and sweet sponge cake, or neopolitan gelato.

And then, when that was over, there were little glasses of limoncello for those who wanted it. For those who didn't, Ian offered a beverage of the guest's choice.

Ruby nodded " yeah or it's just nerves over tomorrow," she said as the next course was placed down in front of her and she groaned as she continued to eat. She had heard him mention Natalie had said they would sort out something and breathed out having some cassata cake. She found that it settled her stomach and she smiled "that cassata cake was divine and my stomach didn't complain so I think the baby likes that too" she chuckled " but seriously I will talk to Robert about tweaking the potion..after the wedding, no need to distract him right now." she said finishing her desert.

Now done she moved to the kitchen and took some of her potion knowing she would probably be too tired to take it before she slept that night.