A Birth day

Aria chuckled as he spoke about the kids then she saw Poppy trying to stop herself falling asleep at the table and smiled as Ezra spoke of showering in the morning and Marcus said not to give him grief about showering in the morning. When he spoke of using an old-fashioned coffee pot she shook her head "Sorry I haven't" she admitted " I have a special one I use, but for authenticity I left it behind." she said " but Im willing to give it a try" she added.

finishing her food she stood up and grabbed the pot and coffee grounds, placing in some water she added the grounds then placed it on the fire "Did I do that right?" she asked Marcus looking at him knowing she was learing too just as the kids were learing about her.

"You did," Marcus smiled. "Well done. So here's the thing. Let it come to a boil. Then take it off the heat and let it sit for a few minutes. You're going to think its all buggared because all the ground will be floating on the top, but it's fine. Sprinkle some cold water in it, and that makes the grounds sink to the bottom. Don't ask me why, but it works. Then let it stit for a few minutes more to give the grounds time to sink. Oh, and be sure to remember to use the oven glove because if not, you'll end up with some very serious burns on your hand because the pot is ridiculously hot."

"That actually sounds easy," Zane said. "Irf someone knows how much coffee to add and how much water to add."

"it is," Marcus said. "The general guideline is about 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 8 oz of water, and then either more or less depending on how strong you like your coffee." The kids were pretty much finished with their supper, and Marcus got up and cleared the table, and he stacked them in a big galvanized washpan. He knew he could take the dishes into the tent and set a cleaning spell in place, but they were in muggle territory, and a muggle would never ever take dirty dishes inside the tent. Water for washing dishes would be heated on the fire and dishes washed in the washpan. Nor would a muggle ever store food in the tent. It would be stored safely in the car.

"When with muggles.." Marcus told the kids who were all looking at him like he had lost his mind.

"Oh," Zane nodded, remembering. "I'll get the coffee mugs."

"There's some tea in the food box for Daria and Poppy and Ezra if they want it," Marcus said. "We can use a little of the water I'm heating for tea for them."

"Thanks, Dad," Daria said.

"Any time," Marcus smiled. "Did you lot have a good time today?"

"The best," Daria said, and the others agreed. "What are we doing tomorrow?"

"We're camping. That's what we're doing," Marcus laughed.

As they finished the last of their supper, Angus poured the last of the wine between the two glasses. "I don't know who decided there are five glasses of wine to a bottle. I only get four glasses out of a bottle. Just enough for two for supper. So, since we're rained in this evening, what would you like to do tonight? I know there are board games in the main salon, and a muggle tv with some muggle movies, if that strikes you. Or, maybe you have something more original in mind."

Aria listened to Marcus and smiled "All right, guess I let it come to a boil now." she said and smiled looking at Poppy and the others " I think they will be out like a light tonight" she said watching him place the plates in a galvanised bowl to wash them later " we can do that later." she said and nodded at his words. Hearing a light whistle she grabbed the oven glove and lifted it placing it next to the fire on a stone she'd found with a flat surface. carefully opening it she dropped some cool water into the pot and then closed it again to let the grounds sink to the bottom of the pot.

Ruby chuckled as she let him pour another glass for her " I think just relaxing together would be good." she said to Angusas she sipped her wine with a smile "Maybe watch tv and listen to the sound of the rain against the roof and not think of any work" she added as she piced up her plate and moved to the sink to wash it. Now clean she left it to dry on the drainer and moved to the livingroom glass in hand. " you coming dear?" she asked holding out her hand for him to take and a smile on her face.

"Yes, that's right," Marcus nodded, as the kids set out mugs and some tea bags for the younger kids. Zane put some cookies on some paper napkins for everyone. "These are great big cookies, Dad. I don't think anyone is going to want two of them."

"Speak for yourself," Ezra said. "There is no such thing as a cookie that's too big for two." That made Marcus laugh. "Dad, what's your job really like? Like, what do you do on an average day?"

"You really want to know?"

"Yeah," he said.

"I usually live with whoever I'm protecting. I go wherever they go to keep them safe. My job is to stay right beside them to prevent anyone from hurting them."

"So, if they go to a party or something, you go with them, even if they have to wear fancy clothes and stuff?"

"Yep. That's the job."

"But," Daria asked. "What if somebody does try to hurt them?"

"Then its' my job to either stop that person or to put myself in harm's way to protect my client."

"In other words, your job is to take the wand fire for them."

"Yes. That's the worse case scenario, though. Fortunately, I haven't had to do that. Not so far. I always look for other options," Marcus said.

"We don't want to lose you, though," Daria said.

"And i don't plan on going anywhere. i have to live long enough to embarress every one of you at some point or another," he grinned at them.

"I think that plan sounds just fine," Angus told Ruby. He took her hand, bringing his glass along, and went into the salon. The wind was blowing from a slightly different direction, so he opened the window just a crack to let the clean smell of the rain come into the salon. he sat down on the sofa, set his glass beside him and put his arm around her. "Do you know how rare it is to not have a houseful of people? I love them all, but, God, I love the peace and quiet right now."

Aria sat and listened to them talk to Marcus and smiled "Well now that Im here I'll watch his back, while hes protects the other person" she said and chuckled as she looked at him "because like you I don't want anything bad to happen to your dad ether." she said as she then walked dover with the coffee pot and slowly poured out the coffee into the cups of those who wanted some. " they look delicious" she said taking a cookie. Instinktivly she dipped it into her coffee and waited a moment before she ate it and looked up at everyone one "What I dunk" she said and chuckled.

Ruby smiled as Angus followed her down to the living room area and opened the window to let some fresh earthy air enter the room " I agree this will give you time to sort out the thoughts in your head" she said softly as she flicked on the TV. " now come.." she said and patted the seat next to her " relax." she added with a cheeky grin.

"It's just gonna get your coffee all full of crumbs and junk," Ezra said, "but if you want gross coffee, go right ahead." Zane laughed.

"It'll sink to the bottom with the coffee grounds. She'll be fine," Zane told Ezra. "So what flavor of tea did you pick?"

"Some nutty thing," Ezra said. "I like it a lot."

"That must be some of the almond tea I brought."

"That's what I have too," Poppy said.

"Mine smells like a chocolate frog," Daria said.

"Well, there is also a chocolate tea in there. So do you like the tea? My boss makes flavored teas."

"Gran and Granddad would like these a lot," Poppy told him. "You should give them some for Christmas."

"We still don't have an anniversary gift for their upcoming anniversary. Dad, could you get some of the teas for us that we kids could give them, maybe with a pair of some sort of nice mugs?" Zane asked.

"I think that's a great idea," Marcus said. "I'll get you a nice assortment. I think you're right. They'll like that."

"You know we're not really going to watch tv, don't you?" Angus looked at her.

Aria chuckled " I know but it makes the cookie nice and soft," she said then listened to them talking "Oh we could make a basket for them, it has teas and coffees and biscuits and other things they can use in it" she suggested as she dunked her buscuit again and ate it. She heard them mention the teas and smiled " Robert does make lovly teas" she said as she now sipped her coffee again leaving the grounds at the bottom of the cup.

Ruby chuckled and nodded as she moved to sit over the top of him " I know " she said smiling as she slowly lent down and kissed him deply as the sound of the rain drummbed in her ears. (Fade to black)

Ruby shifted on the bed she rolled to hug Angus close to her now hearing silance as the rain had stopped but smelling the fresh earthy air around them.

"That's even better," Daria said. "maybe with homemade cookies of some sort."

"Well, depending on how much time we have, you lot can do that maybe at the place where I'm staying now or I can get a batch of some sort of nice cookie for it. Maybe some clear glass mugs that we can get engraved with their monograms on them."

"I like that idea," Kai said. "That would be really classy looking, I think. and the engraving would really show up when the tea is in the mugs."

"Yes. It would," Marcus agreed.

"Kai is doing some really nice looking leather work. He should make a pair of leather coasters for the mugs," Poppy said.

"My stuff isn't that good. Not like your watercolor painting is," Kai told Poppy.

"Well, maybe there's room for everybody to do something," Marcus said. "And that would mean the world to them. We have time. Why don't you think about it?"

Angus had slipped off to sleep, his mind not on New Orleans at the moment. What he was thinking about, when he dozed off, was them--him and Ruby. As much as he liked the kids, he was always going to need, periodically, some privacy with her. He waas goign to have to shift is life just a little to do this a bit more often. Once every year was not enough.

"Yes. It would

Aria listened to them and smiled "You know grandparents always love things that have been hand made by their grandkids, so I think both of your ideas will be great" she added and sipped her coffee " but I think for now sleep is in order, we can work out the other things tomorrow." she said softly and motioned to marcus to where a sleeping Poppy sat and chuckled softly.

"I'll put her to bed, you stay with the others " she offered and stood up she picked up Poppy in hr arms and walked inside to place her on her bed , slipping off Poppys shoes she then covered her with a balnket and headed back outside to the others. " she didn't wake once" she told him as she sat down again facing him.

The other kids got up and went to bed too, every bit as tired as Poppy was, and when Aria came back, Marcus had the table cleaned off and the rest of the dishes in the washpan.

"They did really exceptionally well, especially Poppy. She's only known any of them, or me, for just about a year," Marcus told Aria. "Her mother didn't tell her that the man she was married to was not Poppy's dad--not until Poppy's mother found out that her husband was abusing her daughter. So the changes have been massive for her. It's odd but Poppy doesn't really look much like her mother, I don't think. Her mother is a beautiful woman, but she has dark hair and brown eyes. Poppy has blonde hair and blue eyes. You would probably recognize her husband--Pavel Levski--used to be a big quidditch star. Dark hair, dark eyes. I dont' know how nobody ever questioned how they came up with a tiny blonde kid with blue eyes. But nobody questioned it. I think she looks more like some of the pictures I've seen of my mother at that age, actually, and she looks like she had that tiny, willowy build too. Frankly, I wanted to see Pavel in jail, but I let him go to get Ana to give me Poppy so I would know she would be safe. And I do think she's happy now." He sighed. "You know what? This isn't getting the dishes done, and the water is getting cold. Besides, I am quite sure we have better things we could be doing." he gave her an amused smile and then he got up and added the water to the washpan and some dish soap and set in to wash dishes.