A Birth day

"Are we allowed to walk the grounds?" Marcus asked.

"Certainly," Angus said, "but with that concussion, the bright sunlight is going to amp up your headache. You should perhaps wear some sunglasses and I'd suggest not going too far. Why don't you start with perhaps just walking through the garden and getting acquainted with the Fae. Or checking out the tea garden with the gazebo? I'm sure Finn would love going along."

"I hadn't considered that. That's probably a good idea," Marcus said. "Do I have sunglasses."

"You do," Angus said. He accio'd Marcus's sunglasses and handed them to him. "Don't go very far, will you?"

"I won't," Marcus agreed. He went outside to get a general idea of what the grounds looked like, to help him figure out where the heck he was. Angus got himself a glass of lemonade with ice, and he went outside and sat on the deck to keep a bit of a protective eye on Marcus.

As he was sitting there, Kate came over.

"I just wanted to thank you for all your help with Audrey," she told him. "My friend told me the groceries have arrived, and she's hired a local woman to get the house sparkling clean. And in the meantime, she's gotten baths for all the kids, and she's teaching Audry how to do some menu planning. She's going to get the kids on a schedule straight away, and Audry's going to go see Owens this afternoon. Things are very well in hand there now, so I thought you'd like to know. Thank you."

"We didn't do much, but we're glad it helped."

"How's Marcus?"

"He's had some very vague memories of Evelyn, his parents, and his kids."

"That makes sense. They're some of his oldest memories.  Don't let him overdo, will you?"

"No. I won't," Angus said.

"And Mickey and Trish held a big cookout last evening to feed all the new kids, and believe it or not, they have some leftover barbequed ribs and barbequed chicken and some side dishes. They're sending it here for us for supper tonight, and I'm sure it'll be incredible. They'll be enough for all of us, so I'll make sure Zoe or Nicky brings enough for your household tonight. Do you need some help getting some lunch today?"

"No, we'll be fine. Aria and Ruby are in Diagon Alley, and I think they're going to bring us some takeout from Sparks for lunch. So if we have Sparks for lunch and then have Mickey's barbequed ribs for supper, i think we'll be in great shape for food today. Thanks, kate."

"You're very welcome. I need to get back. I have two toddlers who want to play dress up in Khaat's closet. I think I need to go supervise that," she laughed. She got up and went back to the main house.

Ruby and Aria both enjoyed some ice cream together, Aria had mint choc chip while Ruby had strawberry with chocolate sauce. Once they had eaten both went to spark. Entering the restaurant Ruby looked around as she stood there a woman pushed past her making her lean against the greeters booth " excuse me" she said and turned to look at her.

Aria moved to stand with Ruby " hey we were here first " she said the woman just looked down at them both . it wasn't until Lizzy walked out and over to them giving Ruby a hug " hey Lizzy, Angus sugested we can grab something for our lunch here " she saw Lizzy smiled and nodded.

"I have just the thing, wait right there" she said and dove back into the kitchen, she returned several minuets later with two large boxes in bags " let Angus know its our newest addition to the menu , your kinda guinea pigs " she said smiling totally ignoring the woman who pushed Ruby out of the way. Ruby thanked Lizzy and gave her a hug in return while Aria just said thank you and together they walked out of Sparks, behind them they heard the woman again who had been thrown out of Sparks for being rude.

Aria and Ruby chuckled and ported back to the duplex. " honey were home" she called out walking into the room " Lizzy sent over two boxes of food , not sure what in them she said we were her guinea pigs on a new addition to the menu." she added placing them on the counter in the kitchen " we also got Marcus a new wand" she pause and looked around " where is he by the way?" Ruby asked looking around the room.

Angus heard ruby and Aria return, and he smelled food. He hadn't really thought he was hungry, but then he smelled the food. He came in front the deck when he heard them calling. When Ruby asked where Marcus was, Angus laughed.

"At the moment? He's outside having a conversation with the Fae. Or trying to. It's taking him a little to get adjusted to the fact that the Fae try to sign to us because they don't speak but they can hear and they understand English perfectly well. It took him a minute to realize he didn't have to try to sign back to them. I think he's getting it now. He wanted to go see the grounds, but I honestly don't think he should go too far, not with his concussion. Another day or so will make a big difference. I'm glad you got him a new wand too. I don't think he's going to be forgetful for very long. He's starting already to have some very vague memories of his parents and his kids, even a really vague memory of Evelyn when he saw their wedding photo. He hasn't gone entirely through the album, though, and Actually, I don't think it's good for him to try to force himself to remember." 

He headed for the kitchen to open the lunch boxes. 

"Oh. They're all different, and clearly there are multiple portions in each box. She meant this as a tasters' lunch. I'll plate them up." He got some plates and put small tastes out of each box on everyone's plate, and he got out some scratch pads and some pencils.  "So, here's how this works. You taste an item, write down what score you would give it, generally one to ten, and make a comment about what you think works or anything you think doesn't work. Why don't you two tuck into your plates, and I'll call Marcus in."

Ruby listened to Angus and nodded as he told her where Marcus was " slowly is best " she said smiling " oh we had ice cream too and looked in some of the shops there, and we had a rude woman at Sparks Lizzy delt with her though" Ruby said as Aria glanced out the window watching Marcus she had placed the wand box on the table beside Angus chair ready for Marcus to pick up.

" yeah he was very helpful, knew right away what Marcus wand type was, this is supposed to have the brother whisker to the one he had before" Aria said as she moved to sit on the couch while she watched Angus dish up the food from the boxes they had picked up from sparks. She listened to him talk about what Marcus remembered from that morning. But she also knew it would take time for him to remember her too, this she was okay with as she had all the time in the world to wait for him.

"I'm glad you had a great time. Kate was here briefly to thank us for stepping up to help Audry. She says the nanny hired a temporary maid to help clean and put the house to rights, and she's helping Audry to get the kids on a schedule and teaching her how to make a menu plan. She thinks things will continue to get better there. Oh, and Kate said that its far more normal for older, deeper memories to return first, or at least that's what she said Robert has seen more of. that make sense to me, I suppose."

Marcus came in, and Angus invited him to the table for lunch. Angus's favorite of the entire lunch was Lizzie's American style fried chicken. Lizzie's batter was crispy and crunchy on the outside, and the chicken was moist and juicy on the inside.

"Its perfect," Angus said. "You know, this would make a fantastic American style summer picnic lunch Anise and Ginger wanted a traditional picnic. Well, this fried chicken is a traditional picnic favorite in the states. They usually add potato salad or macaroni salad, molasses baked beans, lemonade or some chilled wine, and some sort of dessert. Could be any number of things. Cookies, cookie bars, whoopie pies. I like the whoopie pies actually. Maybe I should talk to her about it. What do you think? Maybe she could do a special where its all ready, packed in a hamper, and ready to pick up to go and have fun."

Ruby listened to Angus and smiled " that's good she does need extra support while hes in hospital" she said " and it was nothing, a few minuets out of our time that we could spare for her" she said smiling a she saw Marcus walk in " hey Marcus " she said as Aria smiled to him as they went and grabbed food. Once they got there plates Aria sat down and and ate her food.

Ruby listened to Angus talk of the food and nodded her head at him and smiled " yeah I agree I'll send her a note with those suggestions" she added as she ate the food she had " it is good , all of it" she said as she handed some chicken to Caprice who chewed on it but eventually picked pieces off it and ate them.

"Well, I'm sure we'll be sending her our opinions of the tasting menu too, so we can add these suggestions right along with it," Angus said. "She'll appreciate it, I'm sure."

"Donohue!" a voice bellowed at him from the floo. It made him jump. Angus knew who it was without asking. It was Tom Gelding. Angus was tempted to turn the floo off and lock Tom out.

"Whadda ya want, Tom?" Angus sighed, getting up and going over to the floo.

"Meet me. I want to cut a deal," Tom said.

"You aren't in any position to make a deal of any kind," Angus nearly spat out the words in anger. 

"Bring your boss along with you, and nobody else. I'm not hosting a party. Just the two of you, and no more."

"He's not in the mood to talk to you," Angus said.

"I didn't ask you if he was feeling sociable. Just get him and come. Meet me at Loco, on Grands Boulevards in ten minutes." Tom closed the floo and was gone. "Damn it." Angus opened the floo and tried to reach Robert at the Ministry.

"You caught me just in time. I was just debating on going to lunch," Robert said. "What's up?"

"Tom. He just contacted me on the floo. He said he wants to cut a deal..." Angus began. Robert laughed out loud.

"Oh, I bet he does."

"He wants us to meet him in ten minutes at Loco, in Paris," Angus said.

"Well, well. They've got incredible steak. I could use a steak lunch. I think we should go and hear what he has on his mind," Robert said. "Dress trousers and a button down should suffice. I'll be there to get you in five."

"Do we need to take anyone else along?" Angus asked. "He did say I should bring you and nobody else."

"Of course he did. I don't care who he does and doesn't want. I'll do what I want," Robert said. "If Aria can change into a business skirt or dress and heels in under five, then bring her. If she can't, then we'll go by ourselves. I'm not afraid of him. If he's cutting a deal, he's not going to bring a lot of goons, and, frankly, I doubt he has many left at his disposal today anyway. See you in five."  Robert closed the floo.

"I guess I'm changing clothes," Angus said, getting up. "You heard him, Aria. I'll leave your choice up to you. Sounds like you don't have to go if you don't want to. Its up to you, I think." Angus headed upstairs to look for some dress trousers and a button down shirt.

Aria listened to Tom as he spoke threw the floo and frowned not liking this man one bit. She also heard Robert and smiled at Angus " oh watch me" she said and chuckled as she stood up and quickly headed to hers and Marcus room . about two minuets later she stood in a white blouse , pencil skirt black shoes and her hair, high and tight to show business " hows this?" she asked walking back down her makeup was professional but light.

ruby looked at Angus and nodded " play nice, until you cant,, then give him hell." she said simply and smiled to Angus. " I'll clean up the food boxes and plates" she added as she gave Caprice and Dimond something else to eat Dimond didn't like it and threw it but Caprice took a bite and ate it smiling. Aria lifted hr skirt slightly showing the thigh holster Angus had given her along with several small knives attached around the outside.

"just in case" she told him moving to his side as she waited for Robert to come to the duplex and take them.

Angus changed into black trousers with a black plaid dress shirt and black dress shoes. He came downstairs, and he was struggling to fasten his cuff links with his buggared up arm.

"That looks fine," Angus said. "He's not going to get the idea that you're any sort of trophy team member. That's fine."

"I think I can still figure out a cuff link," Marcus told him. "Allow me." Marcus fasted the gold and black onyx cufflinks in Angus's shirt sleeves. "Great looking shirt."

"You have good taste. You bought it for me the last time you ordered shirts for me from our outfitter in Venice," Angus laughed.

"Well, good. I still approve of it, then," Marcus laughed. "Who is this Gelding guy?"

"A foul git that has not one ounce of ability to care about anything or anyone else except himself--and his own bank account. He also happens to be married to Ruby's mother. And there's another person none of us like--her mother."

"This sounds like it is one large screwed up family."

"No. Her dad was a criminal, and he's passed on. Her mother was..um...an entertainer of sorts. And she's now married to Tom, who is a bigger criminal than Ruby's dad was. You were with us on a mission to rescue some kidnap victims when you were injured. That's the short version of it."

"I really don't need to hear the long version, do I?"

"Not now," Angus said, as Robert knocked and came in.

"You two look fine," Robert told Aria and Angus. "How's your head, Marcus?"

"Liveable," Marcus said. When Angus saw Diamond toss her food, Angus went over, picked her up out of the high chair and put her in the playpen, not saying a word. 

"Her meal is over," Angus told Ruby quietly, avoiding being irked. "She doesn't get food now until her snack time or supper time. Those two need to figure out that if she throws food, the food stops coming. If she tantrums, please just put her in her crib until she learns that if she tantrums, she gets to be elsewhere where we don't have to listen to her. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Aria heard Angus and nodded " that was my thought too" she said and looked behind him as he spoke to Marcus as Robert entered. It was now she watched Angus take Dimond out of her high chair and place her into the play pen. Ruby nodded her head and continued to feed Caprice until she started to push Ruby's hand away. She then picked up Caprice and placed her into the pen " will do" she said smiling to Angus and nodded when he said they would be back soon.

Ruby looked at Aria " watch his back" she said to her and Aria nodded her face now serious as she stood with Robert and Angus." I'm ready." she said to them both " lets get this show over" she added as she held onto Angus and Robert ready to port to Paris.