A Birth day

Jack looked at Robert and then at Anise as she swallowed the potion and pulled a face like she was going to be sick. He also saw the relief on her face after a moment when Robert touched her. It was now he heard a knock on the door and turned to see one of the grounds staff in his hand he held two more of the bundles in his hands.

"Get those away from me , didn't your boss tell you whet they do to werewolfs" he scolded the man who placed thm on a table out side " Robert, Edward theres more" he called to them " its not just a one off" he moved around the table looking at them " same kind of pin and the wolfsbane flowers." he paced around the table now some what annoyed at Suzzane " she is one messed up witch." he said as the young man who had brought the bundles looked on " sorry its wolfsbane, ment to harm werewolfs, like myself, jessie and Anise who unfortunatly did touch it." she guy looked to the house " she's fine thanks to Robert but go back out and make notes where you find them if you find any more" he said the man nodded handing him a small map then headed back to the guard house . Jack looked at the map seeing the position of the finds. he hummed and fround.

"You don't know yet that it was her," Robert said. "Don't jump to conclusions.

"May I?" Edward asked. He looked at all the pins, the styles, the makers marks and all the rest. "Hmm." It was all he said. He passed it back to Robert. "Be sure to show them to Michael." Robert believed that Edward knew something.

Angus went to Gringotts and made several significant deposits and opened accounts for Ginger and Anise and deposited money for them too. Marcus said nothing. He just let him take care of his business. Because the accounts were already so well managed, it didn't take him long. He did not want to rush Angus straight home. He chose to take him over to Robert's farm, to a quiet spot that was remote and far from the house, so that Angus could have some alone time.

They sat down on the ground looking over the creek that fed the little lagoon spot that Remus so loved. They just sat for awhile. Marcus quietly told him of a time he had felt that he needed to make the same choice, and he told him what he'd thought and felt. Marcus didn't share those things with anybody, but today, Angus needed to hear them, and it rang so strongly with Angus that he could not contain the emotion anymore. He dissolved into a little puddle of his own suffering and wept. Marcus wrapped himself around Angus, not saying a word, wanting Angus to just know that, still, Marcus had him. Marcus was going to let him release that agony that had been haunting him since Suzanne and James had invaded last, and he was going to make sure he had the privacy to do it.

Jack looked at Robert and nodded " I know but look at the positions they were found in , it might tell you more about who put them there" he said showing how they were found along the main path down to the main gate " she never went that way, only one man I know did" he placed the map on the table to show Robert.

Ruby finished her trainning nd smiled as Owens explained where they wee going to work on next time but he was happy with her progress. After being dimissed she ported back to the house seeing Jack and Robert on her front porch " um whats happened?" she asked walking over and seeing the small bunches on the table. " thats wolfsbane" she said and looked into the house to see Anise sleping on the couch, she said nothing but looked to Robert waiting for him to explain.

"Yes. I see," Robert said. "It's certainly possible. Let's continue to gather evidence. I haven't had time to research that guy, whatever the heck his name was. Ask Jess, when you see her to see what St. Mungo's has. He has to have a record there. Just about every witch or wizard does. We'll send Jessie and Yulong to check ministry records and the library for any past references in the Daily Prophet."

"It seems someone either planted or dropped wolfsbane plants here. Wolfsbane potion is not as deadly to a werewolf as the plant is. Anise didn't know what it was and picked up a bunch and, in short, she was poisoned. Edward and I have neutralized it, and she's resting right now. She's only been asleep for maybe an hour. I think she will probably sleep another hour or so. We have the baby over here with us, but she's been snoozing too. Angus and Marcus went out together just a little bit ago. They didn't think they'd be gone long, so I expect them back in the next hour or two.

"Just make sure that our werewolves doesn't touch them or any part of them again, or the pins. None of it. If you have a large plastic bag, let's seal them so they're airtight and can't harm anybody. And, for a little, do stay close to Anise. It was truly an ordeal for her. She's going to want a little nurturing when she wakes up. That was far more than a kid should have had to deal with. She's going to want her family close. I'm thinking it might be good for us to move Ginger here and down to her bed in their room. Anise might feel comforted by Ginger being here. Are you guys able to absorb one more? I can continue to keep her in sickbay, but I don't have a place for her up in the bedrooms yet."

Ruby listened to Robert and though annoyed was glad he was there . " all right" she said and moved inside to grab a bag for the bundles " hre you go" she said as she picked up the bundles and placed them into the bag beforehanding them to Jack who took it by the handlles. She heard about Anise and nodded " don't you worry , well Gingers bed is ready for her, we anticipated she'd come over soon" Ruby said as Jack thanked her and walked to the barn to stor the bundles in a safe place.

"Don't you worry I'll ask Jess to check the records " Jack had said as he walked away towards the barn again. Ruby walked inside and saw Anise she picked up a throw and gently laid it over her befe sitting down next to her " poor thing and its understandable." she said gently laying her hand on her shoulder and smiling " I'll make some of Angus's cinamon rolls later for her , they always cheer me up." she smiled up at Robert "oh Owen sent the reports to your office ." she said " he hadn't noticed anything yet but he's put those who are on patrol on alert."

"Since her mama isn't here, you're going to need to be her mama for now," Robert told her. I'll go move Ginger over. I really think I'll settle her outside on your deck with a pillow and a blanket and let her have some of the very first sunshine and fresh air she's had in over two years. I'll have to try to borrow a pair of women's sunglasses for her somewhere because the light will be too bright for her otherwise, but I think she's more than ready to be able to spend some time with Anise. Andrew can help move her downstairs later, when she gets tired. She probably won't want to be outside very long anyway.

"And yes, the cinnamon rolls are a good idea. Zoe made some for breakfast a week or so ago after finding Angus's recipe but she didn't know they needed to be big ones. They were just regular sized. They were good, but it just wasn't the same. Don't tell her I said that. I'll go get Ginger, and I'll see you in a bit. And then I'll rescue the bloody wolfsbane Jack just made off with. How can Michael examine it if Jack has dashed off with it already?" Robert shook his head and headed to go get the wolfsbane and then to get Ginger.

Marcus and Angus had smoked a few cigarettes, but they still hadn't said much. When they did, Angus admitted he knew his nerves had been completely raw since James had been there, and Marcus acknowledged that he had seen it. Marcus also drew out of his pocket a bottle of nerve potion that he happened to "borrow" from Robert's stores and gave some to Angus. By the time it set in and Marcus knew he didn't dare let Angus stay away much longer, he believed Angus was somewhat better than before they left. If Suzanne or James didn't rattle Angus's cage today, Marcus believed Angus might stand a chance to not feel so hopeless.

Robert apparated Ginger over and put her on a chaise lounge chair on the deck. She seemed captivated by smelling the fresh air, seeing the garden and the flower beds, and hearing the breeze through the trees. Robert got a pillow and a blanket for her and made her comfortable. By then, he believed Anise would be waking up and saw Ruby with her.

"Ginger's out on the deck," Robert told her quietly, to avoid waking Anise. "I asked Andrew to take her out something to drink and just let her settle in and enjoy the sun for a little while. She can go to her room any time she's ready, or if she wants to stay with you and get to know you, that's alright too." He heard apparating. "That would be Marcus with Angus."

Marcus took Angus into his own house, knowing the chaos that would surely still be at Edward's. Robert heard them to into the other side.

"Stay with her," Robert said to Ruby. "I'd like her not to be alone when she wakes. The antidote, the pain relief spell, and the healing spells could very well all cause her to feel considerably calmer when she wakes, but that isn't a bad thing. She can do as much as she feels like and eat or drink whatever she wants. We will keep a pretty close eye on her for the next 24 hours, though, just to be sure. She had a close call." Robert went over and saw Marcus and Angus were back. Robert went over and laid his hand on Angus, just checking.

"Good. Much better," Robert said. "Ginger's out on the deck. Don't push yourself. Let her enjoy the sun. She hasn't seen it in over 2 years. You could use a rest. Ruby's with Anise, and Edward and Simone are over there. I'll be back in a bit to check on you all. Take care of him, Marcus."

"Certainly," Marcus replied, as Robert left to go home for a bit.

Ruby chuckled as Robert said he was rescuing the wolfsbane from Jack "okay " she said simply and moved inside to stay close to Anise as she made the cinimon rolls and put them in the warming room to finsh rising, ready to cook. She then heard Anise wakeing and walked over to her with a soda for her to drink " hey sleep well" she said sitting next to her " I heard what happened " she spoke softly to her then pulled her gently in for a hug . " Roberts put the words out to find and clear any more thats been left and Gingers out on the deck , if your up to seeing her" she said " oh and I made cinimon rolls , there rising in the warming room right now but won't be long." she added looking down at her smiling. " Im just sorry I wasn't here when it happened" she admited to her.

Jack diverted from the barn to the main house to find Michael to show him so he could check these ones out too. " Michael?" he called out still holding the bag with the wolfsbane and heair pins in.

Michael had only apparated back into the house just a very few seconds before Jack appeared with a plastic bag of plants. Robert had not had time to go talk to him about anything, so Michael didn't have a single clue about what jack was on about when he showed up with the plants. He looked blankly at Jack.

"Not an herbologist, Mate, Sorry," Michael said. "All I see is some purple flowers. That's about it. Edward or Robert would be far better choices than me."

Robert came in the back door, after not finding the wolfsbane in the barn. He had seen Jack take it there, and now it was gone. He was getting really pissed off at the damned evidence just rattling around. Whoever was playing hot potato with the evidence was going to end up with Robert's foot up their arse in about thirty seconds if they didn't stop effing things up.

He came in the back door of the main house and saw Jack dangling the bag in front of Michael, and Michael was clearly clueless.

"Michael, could you do me a favor and take a look at those big cloak pins and tell me everything you know about them please?"

"Oh," Michael said. "We're not playing guess the purple freaking flowers?"

"No. We know what they are. I need anything you can tell me about those big cloak pins."

"Oh. Well, that makes more sense," Michael said, taking the bag.

"You lot all need to give me about 30 minutes without setting the place on fire, could you?" Robert asked. "I'm going to take a break to recharge a little." Robert turned and went upstairs, got his robe, went to take a soak in tub instead of a shower.

"I'll go get on these," Michael said. He saw Nicky in the kitchen starting to prep some vegetables to slow cook tonight's supper. "Nicky, are you doing that corned beef and cabbage tonight?"

"I was going to," Nicky said. "I thought I'd get a start so we can braise it."

"Well, give me just a few minutes and I'll be straight back to help you since you've not done this recipe before. I'll be straight back. Thanks, Jack, I'll take it from here," Michael said, heading upstairs to his room to get a really good magnifying glass.

Jack chuckled and shook his head " its not about the flowers " he said just as Robert walked in and explained what was going on " yeah , Anise was hurt by it and we found more down the main path to the gate" he explained then let Robert talk to Michael then let Micahel take the bag and disapear up the stairs " ok" he said and chuckled heading out to the barn to feed the animals inside it.

Ruby sat with Anise and comforted her before moving abck to the kitchen to set the cinimon bus cooking. Once in the oven she moved to the porch to check on Ginger, but not before she accioed a spare pair of sun glasses for her " hey Ginger how you feeling?" she asked sitting down next to her " here I brought these for you " she said handing Ginger the spare pair of sun glasses she held " you can keep them I have a pair still" she smiled at her " so anything you need?" she asked her gently.

"Oh, thank you," Ginger said. "I don't even own a pair." She put them on. "Oh, gosh. Those make such a difference. Thank you. I can't think of a thing I need. You have no idea how alive it feels to be outside again. I'm not used to being inside at all, much less inside over over two years.

"You know, the first time I ever had lemonade was when Robert fed me some after that man found me and brought me back. He gave me more today when we got here. It's incredible. My mother always had books for us to read, and some of them had summer parties in the stories where they always served lemonade. But, this lemonade stuff is pretty tart. In these books, they always served cake, ice cream, and lemonade. Now, forgive me but I'm curious about this thing I see in human fiction books? Were these people who wrote these books right in the head? Why would anybody serve sweet cake, doubly sweet ice cream, and then expect everyone to just love following all that lovely sweetness with sour lemonade? I can't imagine that would be tasty at all."

Robert was in the tub, soaking, eyes closed, when someone came in and sat down. He groaned, and opened his eyes to see it was only Kate.

"Oh, thank God, its you," Robert laughed. She laughed out loud and kissed him slowly.

"I'd better be the only one seeing you naked," she said.

"At my age, nobody else wants to," he replied dryly.

"Good. More for me," she smiled, "but when I see you soaking in the tub instead of dashing through a lightning fast shower, you were looking for somewhere for a little where no one was going to dare to approach you about anything for a bit. Were they getting on your nerves?"

"Maybe a tad," he confessed.

"Well, then, my love, if Jess and Brian and Khaat can keep everyone alive for just a couple of hours, how about I take you on a date for a change? Care to go to dinner with me?"

"You said the magic words. I would love to," Robert said.

"Then, you enjoy your bath and leave the rest to me," she smiled.

"And here I thought I'd talk you into joining me," he replied. She laughed.

"Later--maybe," she said. "I could bring you a glass of wine if you like."

"No, I think I'm fine. I shall relax and think of you and candlelight."

"You are such a romantic. It's a very good thing that nobody knows that but me," she said, kissing his forehead. "i'll see you later." She left the bathroom, and Michael called to her from his room.

"Find anything?" Kate asked.

"Well, it depends on what he's looking for. I can tell you they're antique. All of them. They're silver, not a pure silver. They're a silver alloy, but silver nonetheless. And they were made by the oldest wizard jewelry makers on record in France. They're very very old. To use them to just chuck a bunch of flowers around, that was a very expensive way to do it. Its the age and the provenance that makes them expensive, not the metal. And the provenance is proven right here on the back."

"Those little scratches?"

"Ah, but look at them under the best magnifying glass I have." he said. She took it and looked.

"Its a makers mark!"

"Ding, ding, ding! Lady wins the prize. That's precisely what it is. That mark is specific to some of the very earliest years of things being made by wizarding silversmiths that we have on record. I have no doubt that somewhere there certainly are older pieces, but these would have been collectable."

"So who takes valuable pieces and chucks them in someone else's yard?"

"Either a moron, someone with money to burn, or someone who's elevator does not go all the way up," Michael said.

"Well, that could be Suzanne on any of those."

"Or a lot of other people too," Michael replied. "It's not enough. i don't have fingerprints, dna evidence, fabric scraps, hair or any bloody other thing. What about these flowers?"

"Oh. They're poison. Don't eat them," she waved concerns about them away casually. He frowned at her.

"Sometimes you're just as twisted as he is. You say that, like its a message on a piece of junk mail. 'Oh, they're poison, dont eat them?' You, Kate, are not right sometimes."

"Says the man who plays poker with his hat rack and snuggles his post box when she tells you she's lost the affections of said hat rack," Kate laughed.