A Birth day

Ruby chuckled as she listened to them talk about Angus and what he did " I would love to have a port key to here, it feels like home" she said smiling then laughed as they said he sunbathed in the nude " oh well that's nothing I haven't seen before" she said smirking then listened to them talk of how the women would oggle him as he worked shirtless on board ships. " well they can admire him now, but I'm the one who takes him home at the end of the day." she sipped her lemonade with a smile.

" and yes I did aproch him first, but im happy I did, its the best desishion I made." she smiled at him as she listened again to them talk she could not help laugh when they said they would get him some speedos. " wheres the fun in that" she said smirking then heard Eward talking about , introverts and extroverts and those inbetween " so what would youclass me as, intro or extro?" she asked noticing Molly and Abby finishing theire ice cream.

"Who's admiring me now?" Angus frowned. "I don't see a soul paying any attention to me. Don't get jealous about women that I knew before I met you," Angus told her. "And just because I knew them doesn't mean I dated them." He saw very clearly that an innocent conversation about his behavior before he meet her had caused Ruby to be immensely insecure again. They had somehow gone very quickly from her being content enough with their relationship for them to choose to plan a wedding sometime after the baby was born and after he had healed a bit from whatever it was that Suzanne had done to her to need Jeffrey to come treat her to now being back to her feeling a drive to hurry up and 'land him' again. He was definitely feeling her pressure again.

"I don't know for sure," Edward replied to Ruby when she asked for his opinion about her personality style. "I guess I see you as being probably more outgoing than Angus is. He can do his duty in a group of people but he doesn't honesty like it. He'd much rather be with just a very few people. Just because he puts up with it doesn't mean he likes it."

"Aggie, wassit?" Abbey showed him the pizzelle.

"It's a cookie," Angus said to her. "You can eat it if you want." Molly didn't need to hear twice that it was a cookie. She ate hers eagerly, and when Abbey saw Molly eating hers, she felt more comfortable to eat hers. "So, do you want restaurant spaghetti or the spaghetti we make at home?"

"Yours," she said. "It gots more cheese."

"I see," he laughed. He picked up the tab on the table to pay the bill and Edward snatched it away from him.

"That's mine," Edward said. "You can buy next time."

"Okay," Angus smiled. "Does anybody have anything else they want to do while we're here, or should we get back?"

Ruby looked at Angus and chuckled " I know and Im not, I was teasing you." she said with a chuckle at teasing him. She listened to Edward and nodded at his assesment of her personality. It as now she looked to Abby seeing her with a cookie and smiled as she watched them eat it happily. But had to chuckle at Abby saying she liked Angus's spaghetti becuse it had more cheese on it.

On hearing Him ask if there was anything else they wanted to do or they could return she shook her head " I for one am good, I like this place and the food is good to, I see why you come here Angus." she said smiling at him. She saw Edward get the bill and picked up the diper bag from under her chair. She could see Caprice ws now sleeping in his arms.

Angus nodded, hearing her say she was teasing. Edward paid the tab, and since no one had anywhere else they wanted to go, Edward decided to head back.

Simone picked up Molly, and Edward picked up Abbey. Angus shouldered the diaper bag and laid the baby up on his shoulder without waking her. They followed Edward back upstairs to the room they'd apparated into so they could port back home without being seen by the muggles.

"Alright, you lot, grab hold and we'll go home," Edward said. Edward ported them home, and in a moment, they landed smoothly on the lawn. "I'll get you a portkey to the estate, and you can come and go however you like, Ruby."

Simone volunteered to take Abbey and Molly back home. She accio'd Abbey's little suitcase and then took the girls back home. Angus put the baby down in the moses basket o nap downstairs in the living room.

Angus looked outside and saw that the new plants they had sent back were nearly all planted already, and he was surprised to see who was doing it. It was some of the men and women from Fenrir's pack.

"Ru, look. I did not expect to see that. I don't understand why, but it was really nice of them," Angus said, calling her to look out the French doors that overlooked their back garden that they shared with Edward and Simone. "Looks like they're almost finished. You know, I have plenty of those strawberry cookies I made with Abbey. I could make some strawberry lemonade and some iced tea and offer them some cold drinks and, if they want it, a cookie, as a means of thanks for all their hard work. What do you think?"

Ruby folowed every one up to the room then moved to hold Angus around his waist as they ported back home. she moved to the kitchen but stopped as Angus pointed out the women planting the plants they had sent back from tuscany that she could see out the french doors.

"That is nice of them, might be there way of thanking you for saving Fenrir's live and getting him out of Askaban, not many can say they went and came back from that place, hes lucky." she said moving to stand next to him as she looked out the french doors beside him. " and I think thats a wonderful idea" she said " I'll get some glasses out and chill them ready for your lemonade." she said

"You might be right," he said. "I never expected thanks for doing the right thing." He went to the kitchen and made a large pitcher of strawberry lemonade and another of iced tea. Then he plated a large platter of the strawberry kitty cookies he and Abbey had made. When Ruby's glasses were ready, He took the lemonade, tea and cookies outside and called to them.

"We certainly don't know how to thank you for all our hard work today..." he began.

"It's our way of thanking you," Phoebe said. "You believed enough in us that you not only fought for Fenrir and brought him back to us, and you rescued us from a really dangerous situation in the forest without Fenrir, you took us into your own home land and you feed us generously every single day without fail. And, as if all that weren't enough, you found our Ginger and brought her back to us and your family continues to care for her 24 hours a day. You and your family has believed in us when no one else in this country seems to. Putting in a few plants is absolutely no trouble at all. We thank you and your family so much."

"I hope this will all create a longstanding truce, and perhaps even friendship between your pack and our family," Angus said. They looked at each other, astounded that someone would ask a pack of werewolves for actual friendship.

"Friendship? Genuine friendship?" One of the men asked.

"Absolutely," Angus said. "I see why not. We have lived here on the same land now for days without anything but good will on both sides. I think we really could be friends." They all looked at each other as Angus sat down the tray with the drink pitchers and the platter of cookies beside the tray of glasses Ruby had prepared. And one of the men came forward.

"Fenrir would not object to a truce and some friendship with this family of humans," he said. "We accept--most gratefully." He reached out to shake Angus's hand, and Angus shook hands. The pack members broke into wide smiles and cheered.

"Ruby and I thought perhaps you might like something cold to drink. So I made a pitcher of iced tea and one of strawberry lemonade. And Abbey and I made some strawberry cookies yesterday. She's the little one that Anise rescued the night before last. Please feel free to come get something to drink and a cookie," Angus said. They looked surprised at even more kindness, but they did come forward and got a drink and a cookie, and as they did, they introduced themselves, one by one to Angus and to Ruby. Angus was hoping that Jack and Jessie and Robert were all okay with Angus's agreement with Fenrir's pack.

Ruby followed Angus outside and listened as he spoke with them. She smiled as they acepted his offer of freindship. She chuckled as they chered then came forward to get a cool drink one by one. She helpped pore some of the glasses for the younger members and talked casualy about some of the plants.

Jack walked over and smiled " hey Angus" he said smiling as he saw the members of the pack talking and drinkin. " about time they took a break" he said standing next to him. " I heard what you said and Im all for it, there a good bunch , handy to have a round too" he said lightly nudging Angus as he smiled and headed over to an elder to speack to him.

"Well, we can always use more friends," Angus smiled when Jack sounded glad that he approved. "I'm glad you approve." He watched Jack go talk to an older werewolf. It was then that Anise came up to him.

"So, tell me. What happened to that big dumb goofball from other night?" she asked him.

"Which one? The woman or the man?"

"No, the werewolf," she said. "The dumb one."

"Oh, him," Angus laughed. "Well, it was my grandfather's idea. I can't take credit, but it will be awhile before we see him again. My grandfather bound his powers and then we dumped him in the most remote muggle landfill we could find in this country."

"Really?" she looked wide eyed. He nodded. "Yes! Excellent!" she cheered. "He's such a moron."

"We couldn't agree more," Angus laughed.

"Hey," she said softly, almost in a whisper. "Can you get me in to see your boss guy?"

"Yeah, I suppose. Why? Can I help with something?"

"Maybe. I dunno. I talked with my mom and dad, and I told them I don't wanna live with a pack out in the middle of nowhere my whole life. I'm surprised but they get it. I told them I wanna stay with you guys and I wanna fight. Dad says I'll have to fight if I stay with the pack or if I stay with you, so it doesn't matter who I fight with so long as I fight for what I believe in."

"Sounds like your dad is a very wise guy," Angus replied.

"Well, there's a problem. I would have a whole year of school to do next year, but as far as your ministry goes, Ginger and I don't exist. We were never registered with the ministry and we never went to school. We were educated by the pack members. My mom says we'll never be accepted in your world, and certainly never as minors. Can't your big boss do something? If I can't ever fit in, there's no purpose for me being alive at all."

"Don't say that," Angus said. "One thing I know about him is that he can make some exceptions happen where there doesnt seem to be any way to make an exception. I'll talk to him if you like."

"Would you? Would somebody let me stay with them? I don't need much. I don't each much, and I don't take up much room..."

"Let me ask, okay?" he smiled. "I'll try, and I'll get back with you. Your parents are certainly not going to let you leave the pack until you're legal age."

"Not true. That's a human expectation. In our pack, once a member is old enough that they could biologically have children, they're considered pack adults because in wolf packs, the females are only allowed to mate with the alpha in order to ensure the strength of the pack." The image that conjured up for Angus was more than a bit offputting, but he did not want to show any emotion about it. "Look," she said, "I know you humans don't roll that way. I get it. Just let me know what your alpha says, okay?"

"I will," Angus said, not sure if he needed to talk to Jack next or go straight to Robert.

Ruby listened to Anise about her joining them " you know she could stay with us once she trains, we have more than enough room" she said smiling at Angus. "Thats if Robert agrees." she looked at Anise as she told them about how things worked in the pack and shook her head " I don't deem to understand pack rules and life but here your not an adult till you turn eighteen," she said " and there's none of that mating with the alpha until a young woman is of age," she said as Jack walked over and heard her.

"that pack life," he said without a second thought, but they're right here things are different, there's no alpha to speak of, Robert is the pack leader, but he's a human, you'll be able to live and love how you want." He told Anise. " I fell in love with my Jess not because she my alpha and Im no alpha either." he admitted " If Robert agrees you have two choices, say here or there's a compound in colorado you could go to, to train then return if you so wished." he explained " but either way you'd be welcome like a daughter and pack member." He smiled at her then saw the pitcher with lemonade in " and is that lemonade, I could go for a glass," he said with a chuckle to his voice.

Anise poured Jack a glass of lemonade and handed it to him.

"Strawberry lemonade. It's pretty good stuff," she said to Jack.

"She could," Angus replied to Ruby. He knew they had one more spare room yet, and there was nothing yet in the basement. There would be room to put a room there for her if she would prefer that. She also knew that Edward's duplex was a mirror image of the one they had. Angus knew that his duplex had four bedrooms and so did Edward's, and Edward was only using one bedroom. Angus was using three--with the master bedroom, the boys, and the baby. Still, there was room, regardless of how it happened.

"I have to ask. Are you willing to take wolfsbane?" Angus asked.

"Is that important for your kind?" she asked.

"Yes," Angus said. "Otherwise, it becomes exceptionally dangerous for us to be with you during the full moon. I'm sure Jack would have to help with your training because he can help you understand how to successfully live in both worlds. We do have another werewolf with us, so I'm sure he could help too. But, yes, you would have to agree to take it."

"So, I'll do it," she shrugged. "I've had it once or twice before, but if it keeps you safer, then sure. No big deal." Angus heard the baby start to cry, and he excused himself, went in, changed her, and brought her outside.

"A baby! Look!" Anise fairly melted seeing a baby. "Which one does she belong to?"

"She's mine--and Ruby's," Angus said.

"What's her name?"

"Caprice. It was my grandmother's name."

"She's so tiny. How old is she?"

"Not quite a month," Angus said.

"I've never seen one so tiny before. I've seen babies, but not one so tiny. The ones I've seen have been lots bigger."

"Maybe that's just werewolf physiology. I don't know," Angus replied.

"I don't want to be a werewolf. I wanna be a person," she said.

"You're still a person. Being a werewolf doesn't keep you from being a person," Angus said.

"Fenrir says we're animals. I don't wanna be an animal. I wanna be a person," she said.

"Jack? You wanna handle this one?" Angus asked.