A Birth day

Aria saw him return and sit down she walked over with a cup of tea for him and smiled as he began to talk as she sat facing him. " so all we have to do is close the deal on the cottage and move it over here, but I agree having it here helps with your protection job and mine too" she said smiling " I wouldn't ask you to live seperate from your job" she said smiling " and a spot by the pond would make it worth coming home to the cottage , not that I wouldn't mind with you there anyway" she said and chukled.

Ruby smiled feeling Angus take her hand in his as they walked to the office, letting go of his hand she sat in a chair behind Angus and waited as they began to talk and gasped as Evan told them fuel exploded and caused the marks on his face . " well that would be whom ever left them in the practice area's fault " she said moving her chair to next to Angus as Evan spoke of Tara being okay with it " did she see the funny sie of it, or was she worried and pampered you ?" she asked smiling to him " also Im guesing Robert is going to minamise scaring?" she asked now worried.

"I'll go talk to the realtor tomorrow, and see what I can do. If i were smart, though, I'd ask Angus to talk to him first. Angus has actually been involved in most of the land purchases because he's sharp at property management, and, the realtors in the area know that he has the power to buy for Robert and Brian. So, they're learning not to try to screw him because he just won't have it. If we want a good deal on the cottage, we might be wise to see if Angus is willing to try to wheel and deal for us and see if he can get a good deal. If he can't, we can come in, then, as new potential customers and see what we can do ourselves."

"Well, I'm not debating that either," Evan told Ruby when she said it was the fault of whoever left the fuel cans there. But, actually, in the real world, there are going to be real hazards, and we need to be able to work with having an awareness of what we can and can't do in any given environment."

"So, who left the fuel cans there?" Angus asked.

"I don't know. Kieran said they were supposed to be empty cans used as props for the training area, but clearly they weren't empty. I got the feeling that Robert wanted more answers. So, I'm just a rookie in Robert's organization, so I'm happy not knowing anything. Anyway, Sam feels responsible, and I did try to tell him I don't blame anybody, but he's upset. And I can't blame him."

"Are the kids at home?"

"No, I suggested they take the day and spend it at Edwards with my girls, just to let their hair down and have a day at the beach. I'll make sure they get home in time to get ready for work in the morning. You have my word."

"Thanks. And, is the offer still open for our girls to study with your girls?"

"Absolutely," his face lit up. "I think Beauxbatons would be lucky to have them."

"Well, but Beauxbatons is selective and our girls haven't had any formal schooling."

"Then you need someone in France who is a little influential, I suppose," Evan said.

"And I think I know just who might do that," Angus said, having ideas. "if our girls want to do it at all."

"We talked about that, and it wasn't anything they had thought of but they said they'd definitely be interested if any school would take them."

"Then I'll see what I can do. Thanks, Ev'. Look, I know you're working, so we won't keep you. We'll catch up with you a little later. Ru, I think we need to head home, don't you?" He got up and went over and picked up the bags.

Aria smiled as Marcus spoke saying it shouldn't be a problem and he would speak to the realtor the next day to arrange the move of the cottage to beside the pond "that's great" she said smiling as she sipped her tea and thought "Oh are we redesigning the interior?" she asked "because I don't mind leaving that to you if you want" she said " the only thing, if I can ask is that I can bring Mr Mugginz here from my moms?" she asked looking at him over the top of her cup.

Ruby listened to Evan and nodded as he said Robert was investigating "That's a relief" she said then heard Angus speck of Beauxbatons for the girls "I'm sure they will love it" she said and heard them talk of someone in France she sat and thought for a moment about who it could be but just chuckled and left it to Angus to deeal with. Now done she stood up with Angus and took his hand Turning back to Evan she smiled "Take it easy and hope we'll see you soon" she said as they walked out into the sun again she heard Angus say they should head home " agreed" she said smiling as she watched him pick up the bags and hold them.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and ported them both to the duplex, she could smell fresh coffee " Seems Aria and Marcus are back" she said smiling as she headed to the door and opened it for him.

"I actually rather like it as it looks in the pictures," Marcus said, "but we can decide that later. I mean, if we get the place, we'll have to work with Brian to see where the pond is going to be, then decide where we'd put the house and then clear the land and get a good stone cellar and foundation laid for it, all before we move the house. So it won't be something done in the next thirty days. It will take a bit, but I think it'll be worth it. I won't be surprised if we aren't actualy living in it much before spring. After all, we are coming into autumn, so a lot of the work may end up being postponed because of winter weather. Not a lot of that can be done in the snow." She mentioned Mr. Mugginz, and he looked at her for a moment. "Oh. The cat? Yeah, that's fine. I don't have anything against cats. We might want to have Jack see if he can have a word with Finn, since Jack seems to have some abilities to speak to canines, and make sure Finn knows not to bother the cat, but we can do that closer to when we move in."

Angus was glad to get home, and when Ruby opened the door for him, he went in and put the bags down near the door.

"Well, the boaters are back," Marcus grinned. "How was your weekend?"

"Nice and quiet," Angus said. "How was yours?"

"Busy," Marcus laughed. "But fun. Tea's on if you want some."

"Good idea," Angus said. "I'll get it." He poured a mug for himself and for Ruby and took one to her.

"I haven't seen the kids yet," Marcus said.

"Ah, well, we just saw Evan, and he says the kids are spending the afternoon with Evie and Faith. He said he'll make sure the kids are home in time to get to bed on time because they'll be working tomorrow," Angus said.

"Hey, if Robert approves, I'm thinking of adding a cottage i saw. The land has been sold out from under it, so the cottage needs moved, and I'd like to buy it. Any way I could ask you to help see if I can get a decent deal on it?"

"Of course," Angus said. "I'd be happy to. Can we go see it sometime?"

"Maybe tomorrow?"

"Sounds fine to me," Angus replied. "Any sign of Edward or Simone?"

"Not a sign, not a peep," Marcus said. "I was starting to wonder where they are myself."

"Well, that could be just about anywhere," Angus laughed.

Aria smiled seeing Angus and Ruby had returned . she smiled hearing Marcus stell Angus about the cottage. " I'd like to come with too" she said refilling Marcus cup with tea. " and I only ment the inside the out side of it is perfect as it is" she said to him " and when I can catch Jack I'll ask him but I do need to speack to Khaat first, nothing to worry about" she said smiling as she saw Ruby walk over and sit down beside her with her cup of tea.

"Im glad to be home " ruby said and smiled " but I realy should shower and get our clothes in the wash" she said and chuckled " especialy before the kids come home" Aria looked to Marcus and chuckled knowing there things were already washing and would be one soon.

Marcus heard a tapping at the window, and he saw Pip there. Marcus flicked his fingers to open the window and the little owl flew over and dropped a note in his lap and then landed on Angus's shoulder.

"Hey, Pip,' Angus stroked him. "How've you been?" The little owl screeched in his ear.

"Oh, looks like you'll be going without me tomorrow," Marcus sighed. "It seems that David ran into trouble today in the alley behind Sparks, and the end result is that he's out for a couple days with a big gash down his leg. So, I'll have to take Khaat back and forth to St. Mungos for at least a couple days. Angus, look. I like the house, and unless there is something dramatically wrong with it that wizardry can't fix, my thought is that if you can get us a good deal, just do it."

"Okay," Angus shrugged. Marcus wrote a reply on the note and handed it back to Pip.

"Take that back to Robert, would you, Mate?" Angus asked Pip. The little bird flew back out the window to take Marcus's reply back. Angus looked at Marcus. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Probably, yes," Marcus said. "If they were in the alley behind Sparks, I'd say there is about an 80% chance that it was James again. I thought I told David not to go that way with her. That's one of the worst places he could take her because its the easiest place for james to corner her. I'm gonna have to have a talk with that boy if he's going to do stupid crap like that."

"Did Robert say if she was hurt?"

"No, he didn't say, but if she was, David's ass is grass. He won't guard her again, that's for sure," Marcus said.

"And that pendant wouldn't protect her from that?"

"No. It only protects her from two things that we know of--it protects her from being bitten or killed, but not from much of anything else," Marcus said.

"You're itching to go talk to Robert, aren't you?"

"Yup," Marcus said. "I'm trying to behave myself, though."

Aria looked up hearing tapping seing Marcus and Angus move she watched as they opened the window and a small owl flew in. she listened as they spoke and stood up walking over to them hearing him say he wanted to get talk to Robert she chuckled " then just go, we're fine here. " she said Ruby walked over to them too and nodded.

"besides I need to talk to Khaat " Aria said " woth out you guys around too" she added making Ruby chuckle.

"That means one thing...shoes" she said softly making Aria chukle and blush.

"I'll be back," Marcus said, getting up.

"Don't chew on him too hard. You know how tough it can be to redirect Khaat once she gets something in her head," Angus laughed.

"Well, if he's going to guard her, he's going to have to learn to tell her no," Marcus said, opening the door and leaving to go to the main house.

"You trying to learn where to look for mile high shoes like that?" Angus asked Aria going to the floo. "Funny, I didn't picture you as a mile-high shoes fan. I think one of her tallest pairs is a six inch pair, but i know she's got a couple taller than that." he opened the floo and called for Michael.

"What's up?" Michael asked.

"Am I interrupting?" Angus asked.

"No, not at all. I'm putting a roast in the oven for Sunday supper for Daniella and me. What do you need?"

"Well, I could actually use Daniella's help, if she would. I'd like to see if Beauxbaton's would add Ginger and Anise to their homeschooling arrangments that Evan has already for Faith and Evie. The problem is that they don't have any formal schooling anywhere. We might need some influential French person to advocate for them."

"Well, go straight to the top, don't you?" Michael laughed. "I'll talk to her, and we'll get back with you. Are the girls there?"

"No, but they could be if you need them to be."

"No, let me talk to Daniella first and then I'll get back with you," Michael said.

"Fair enough," Angus said. "Thanks." They ended the floo call. He looked at Ruby. "If Daniella isn't a decent enough advocate, given her position, then we don't need Beauxbatons. That's my thought."

Aria smiled to Marcus as he said he would be right back " okay, give him hell" she siad and chuckled as he left hearing Angus she chuckled " not that high but...well I don't have expiriance in any form of heels so I was hoping she could help me, for when I do have to wear something fancy like a ball gown or formal dress" she said Ruby smiled and chuckled at Angus.

"oh don't tease her , I think its admirable, not all woman know how to walk in heels of any hight" she said making Aria smile and nodde her head .

"do you think she'd help?" Aria asked looking to Angus then to Ruby and back.

" Im sure she will Aria, every woman needs to learn some time" she said " Angus do you think you could introduce Aria to Khaat so she could ask her about it, oh and love the idea of the cotage by the way for Marcus and you Aria." she said smiling as Aria nodded.

"its so beautiful, we're thinking on putting it by the pond once Brian has enlarged it, and the kids are great, I think they liked me " she added smiling.

"trust me if they didn't you'd know, right Angus" Ruby said looking over her shoulder at him with a smile.

"I'm not teasing," Angus frowned at Ruby. "Why would you think I'd tease her? It was a serious question. How am I supposed to know what Aria can and can't do? She's not my date, after all. And it wouldn't be the first time some woman has asked Khaat for lessons in how to walk in a six or seven inch heel. She gets that at every stinking formal ball she goes to. She gets that from the women, and, from the men, she's either propositioned or she gets men asking her to make their wives look like her. Tossers, if you ask me. And now you know why every photo of her at a formal ball always has Marcus in the picture as well, pasted right to her. James isn't the only person he rescues her from, believe me.

"Actually," Angus continued," I've seen Marcus actually teach some of the women at the Paris office how to walk in heels. Some of those women haven't ever walked in much but a tennis shoe, and when Robert's asked them to go to a formal ball as backup, they've needed to dress accordingly, and the idea of wearing heels has scared the daylights out of some of these hardened fighters. Marcus has apparently seen some of the lessons they give to the women in the Minister of Magic's family in Bulgaria. I suppose he would see a lot more etiquette and fashion things in the years he worked there than the rest of us would see ever unless we worked in a fashion house or something. If either of you have a pair of heels you're willing to wear to try it, I can talk you through what he does."

When Ruby asked Angus about Marcus's kids, Angus shrugged.

"I can only tell you what I've seen, and in the couple of times I've met his kids, they've been very bit as direct and transparent as our kids are. They haven't held back about their mom, so I don't think they'd hold back if they didn't like you. I think they'd have said so straight up," Angus said. "Especially that little dude--what's his name--Ezra. He doesn't have a lot of filters, I dont think."