A Birth day

"Looks like they're gone," Marcus said. Edward released the enchantments on the doors and windows on the duplex. Marcus sat down with some paper and a pen and wrote a note and sent it through the floo.

"So, now that the crisis is over, introduce us," Edward said. Angus made quick introductions, and he told them that he and Mickey and Trish all went to culinary school together. She had specialized as a pastry chef but she could do almost anything.

"So who was that loud guy outside?" Trish asked.

"That would be your employer--This estate belongs to Brian Quinn and his wife Khaat Lupin, and your boss is her father--Robert Lupin...." Angus said.

"Nooooo. Not THE Robert Lupin..." Mickey said.

"Well, I don't know of another," Angus laughed. "You'll get to know he is far more down to earth than you've been led to believe."

"I knew it had to be someone important for a private chef gig, but I didn't expect to go straight to the top."

"Just make sure you know how to do down to earth comfort food, and you'll be alright," Angus said.

"We can do that," Trish agreed. "How finicky are they...really?"

"They're not. They're far more flexible than you think," Angus said. "Stop being so nervous. How about I take you over to the main house, and you can get settled, find your way around, and give some thought to what you're going to fix them for supper?"

"Yeah, that would be good," Mickey nodded.

"I'll be back," Angus said to the others. He took Trish and Mickey next door and introduced them to Robert and Kate and then returned. "They'll be fine. I left them in good hands," Angus told them. "Now, we need to see to lunch."

"I'm a half a step ahead of you. I ordered everyone a salmungundi--what the Americans would call an Asian chicken salad."

"They're large individual salads with a lot of greens, vegetables, and Asian chicken, served with an Asian dressing. You'll like it," Angus told them.

"Should be here any time. Everyone can just take a takeaway container, and it should have it all inside. And yes, I ordered a meatless one for each Fae. We'll just shrink them for them," Marcus said.

"I'll get some sodas out. Let's just make it simple," Marcus said, getting out some sodas and put them out on the table. "Come grab a container and a fork and a soda, Everyone." Marcus shrank the meatless salads and delivered them to the cheeseboard for the fae. Marcus explained it to them, and they seemed delighted and grateful.

"Can we eat first before we tend the dressings?" Angus asked Marcus.

"Yeah. I'll get the stains out when we tend the wound. It'll be fine," Marcus said.

"God, these salads are great," Evan said.

"And it doesn't look hard to do either," Tara said.

"They're not," Angus said. "And there's only about a million ways to do them."

"Oh, is that all?" she laughed.

"If this is a typical school day, I'm glad we're homeschooling," Ginger told Aria, laughing.

"You realize what this really means, right?" Angus asked.

"No. What?" Ginger asked.

"More dueling practice," he replied. All four girls moaned, not wanting to think about it.

Angus ate til he had had his fill, but he was leaving more than he usually did. Marcus set what was left of his salad aside.

"Come on. Let's go check the dressing. I'm sure you'd rather get out of that suit anyway," Marcus said. He took Angus upstairs, changed the dressing and helped him change. Then Marcus slipped him a dose of pain potion and tended the bloodstain on the button down Angus had been wearing. "Better?" Marcus asked.

"Yeah."

"You were so caught up in looking out for the girls that you didn't actually realize you were in pain. I doubt Robert had thoughts of you doing all the activity you've done. You should cool it for this afternoon before he grounds you or something."

"Can't. I have things to do," Angus said. "I have mashed potatoes to make, a gravy for the potatoes and the roast, the dressing for the spinach salad, the shaved and sauteed brussels, and some fresh whipped cream to go on the sherbet for dessert."

"And you have three very capable women who could take care of those in far less time than it would take you to do it. Tell them you could use their help. They'll be happy to step in for you. And besides, that gives Tara time to spoil the babies, gives the girls time to work on their homework, and gives Evan time to get to know the Fae. That's what they all really want to do anyway, and that leaves you without hosting duties."

"I'll think about it," Angus said, leaving the bedroom and going downstairs. He poured himself a cup of tea from the pot that Evan had made, and he sat down in his chair. Evan finished his lunch and went to go get to know the Fae. Tara had fixed some pureed sweet potatoes and some carrots and was feeding the babies, delighted with the chance to do it.

"Can we go outside?" Anise asked Angus.

"Certainly. Just stay out of trouble, won't you?"

"Always," Anise said. She and Ginger took Evie and Faith and went outside.

"Angus could use some help finishing his crown roast meal for supper," Marcus told Ruby and Aria. "If you don't mind. He needs to sit for a bit."

"He wasn't going to ask," Marcus laughed, seeing that Angus had slipped into a light doze. "I honestly don't think he realized he needed some pain potion, but I think most people would understand that wounds like that hurt like the devil. So, yes, I gave him some pain potion. He says he needs the hot bacon dressing fixed too, and he has some brussels he wanted to shave thin and sauté. Or at least that's what he told me he needed yet to do. One thing about Gryffindors, they're relentless protectors. I doubt you could have found a more dedicated protector, because he's pretty darned relentless, that's for sure."

"Got that from his gran," Edward said.

"And, I daresay, from his granddad too," Marcus said. "From what I've seen, he did learn some things from his gran, but I think he has always taken his cues from you. In case you've forgotten, I was there the night you killed Angus' mother and your own son to protect Angus."

"No. I killed two werewolves," Edward said. "The humans that they were didn't exist in that moment. I didn't have a choice."

"Still, that was your firstborn son, and you only had a fraction of a moment to decide. You never hesitated though. You protected Angus. That was a damned horrendous choice to have to make."

"It wasn't that hard in the moment. If I have anything in this life that I'm proud of, I'm proud of the man he's become. No thanks to his father," Edward said.

"Thank you," Marcus said quietly. "And it looks like Evan has a new friend." He gestured to Evan who was sitting at the desk and intently playing a game with Minos. "Ever see that game before? It's Mancala. It looks like Angus' travel board, but Evan didn't fully resize it. It's only partway so that Minos can move his own stones. They've been at it for quite awhile now, and it looks like they're both having a great time, like they're old mates. The rest of the Fae went back out to the garden to work, but these two are very busy in a contest of wits, I think. Since you don't need me, I'm going to go out and lend a hand in the garden. If you need something, give a shout, and I'll be straight back in." He got up and went outside to work with the garden crew."

Angus slept for the next thirty minutes or so, and he woke, yawning, got up and poured himself some tea and took the mug and went outside to check on the girls. He didn't see them. He resisted the urge to be concerned. These were almost fully grown women. He had to give them a little credit. He walked around the house, and then he saw them. They were back in the gazebo in the tea garden working on their homework. Breathing just a wee bit easier, he relaxed. Going back to the front of the house, he saw Mickey in Kate's kitchen garden, and he seemed to be picking herbs. Angus went over to him.

"How's it going?"

"Good. Fine," Mickey said. "Going to make a fresh pesto sauce for some chicken and fresh pasta. Just a question though."

"Sure. Shoot."

"There's a talking stick. Well, a chirping stick. What am I supposed to do with it?" Mickey asked.

"Stick? Oh! Looks like a twig, does it?"

"Yeah. A moving, sentient, chirping stick."

"You've never seen a bowtruckle, Mate?"

"A what?"

"Didn't do well in magical creatures, did you?"

"No. Skipped that class, actually."

"You're going to have a lot to learn, then," Angus laughed. "Bowtruckles are harmless. His name is Fudge."

"You have more critters here?"

"Oh, you dont' know the half of it," Angus said. "We'll have to show you around. But, for the moment. The jar on the counter in there labled Fudge? Those aren't sprinkles for sundaes. Those are dried rolly polly bugs for the talking twigs."

"Oh, God. Dried bugs. On the countertop," Mickey sighed.

"In an airtight jar. They're not contaminating anything. Get a grip."

"Oh, and you might want to get one yourself. If you're going to have a girlfriend, you might want to tell her not to send letters to you here. I ran interferance for you with one that came a little bit ago."

"What girlfriend? There isn't anyone in my life now but Ruby," Angus said. Mickey handed him a letter, a pink envelope that smelled like way too much patchouli. He opened the letter. He read it, and as he did, his blood ran cold. "Thanks, Mick. I'll see you later," Angus said, stuffing the letter in his pocket. He turned and walked away. As he walked across the yard, he saw Jack.

"Hey, can we talk a minute--away from all them?" he asked quietly. He walked a few paces away from the others. "I just got a letter. Mickey said it was just delivered to the main house. It's from Priscilla. And it sure smells like her stinky perfume. She says she's out already, and she's going to be coming when I least expect it. I don't think we need to go into a crisis state, but I thought you might want to know that she's openly saying she's going to be coming here uninvited."