A Birth day

Ruby looked at Angus and chuckled "Shes always welcome and thank goodness for that" she said and slipped on the shoes she wobbled a little, but walked over to look at the scones. " those smell wonderful" she said watching him put them out.

"Aria chuckled and looked at Angus " do not give me ideas" she said and chuckled to him. Hearing Sam and Victor walk down with the babies held out from them she frowned then held her nose as she smelt the babies as they handed them to Ruby " okay we have it, come on Ruby" she said taking Amari from her and they both head up to wash and change them into clean clothes.

Now done they carried the now clean babies down to the table " phew , agreed, it defiantly doesn't agree with them " Ruby said as she placed Caprice in her high chair. Aria placed Amari in her chair and cut up both a piece of scone with some of the cream along with some fruit in case they didn't like the scone.

Marcus came downstairs looking fresh and crisp, not at all looking like Angus felt after only a couple hours of sleep. Marcus had had perhaps one more hour than Angus had, but Angus felt like perhaps the two or three hours he had had were not nearly enough, and Marcus was looking fresh as a daisy with his four or five hours.

"Seriously?" Angus asked him, scowling.

"What?" Marcus looked at him. 

"How could you look that rested? You didn't sleep that much longer than I did."

"Oh, I bet I did. I know how you sleep," Marcus laughed. "And I don't take a bunch of nonsense to bed in my head like you do. So your three or four hours is probably more like an hour or so of mine. And I had another very peaceful three hours beyond that."

"I'm jealous."

"Clearly," Marcus laughed, amused. He went to the door and let Finn back in. "What happened, Finn? Did your daddy let you out and forget to let you back in?"

"I did not. He just went out," Angus said.

"A likely story," Marcus said, continuing to tease him. 

"Good morning," Simone smiled, back to her chipper self when she came in. She was wearing a pair of well fitting jeans and a trim, white chambray button down. She had some plain, subdued gold hoop earrings and a small, simple gold necklace. And on one wrist were three very simple gold chain bracelets, each one was a very small link chain in a different type from the others. Her hair was pulled back into a meticulous ponytail and held on the back of her neck at the base of her head with a thin, wide, gold ponytail barrette. It was a look Marcus noticed because it reminded him of the conversation they'd had about helping Ruby to know how to step up her style when she needed to. And Simone, as the wife of an ambassador, had done it so long, it was her everyday style now. Today she was casual, dressed for being with friends or family, but it also had just a wee bit of polish and sophistication.

"Good morning," Marcus smiled, pouring himself coffee. "Can I get you a cup, Simone?"

"Please. That would be most welcome," she said. He handed her the cup in his hand and poured one for himself.

"I've been thinking of Rosaria," Simone told them. "I would guess, with a break that bad, she's going to be bedfast for the most of a week before Robert gets her up. I'm thinking of putting together some sort of a basket of goodies to keep her busy. Maybe some Italian magazines, or a couple books. Or a craft or something. What do you think? Do you think she might appreciate something like that?"

Aria smiled seeing Marcus now up and dressed looking like he had not quiet had the best of sleeps. " Morning" she said smiling as Amari took some scone from her hand and started to eat it making Aria chuckle . Ruby looked at Marcus and chuckled at his had Angus banter. Seeing Simone enter she smiled to her.

" Morning Simone, care to join us for breakfast?" she asked pulling out a seat for her. as she continued to feed Caprice " I need to ask how do you do it walking in heels?" she asked her " I know Khaat does it but Aria wants me to wear these all day to get use to them." Aria looked at Simone and shrugged .

"its the only way to be able to walk comfortable in them" she said and looked to Marcus and Angus as Simone mentioned the basket for Rosaria " oh that sounds a perfect idea" she said as Ruby nodded her head in agreement.

"Heel, toe, my dear," Simone said. "If you try to walk by putting your whole foot on the floor with every step, you're going to get very tired, very fast, and you're going to make your feet and your legs curse you every step you take for a week. And, by using a heel, toe step, you will have far more balandce and control with your steps. Watch." 

She walked slowly to show Ruby that it really was a matter of putting her heel down first and then the toe. it was actually a very relaxed stride.

"Come try it with me," she encouraged her. "We'll go slowly so you get the rhythm of it. Now, going up and down steps is different. Going up the steps, you put your toe down first because the ball of your foot hits the step first. It just the way we naturally approach steps. Then, when you put down your heel, it helps you stabilize. Make sure you put your toe towards the back of the step so you know you will have a place for the heel of your shoe to land. The only time you put your entire foot down at once is when you go down stairs. Always, always use the handrail, and go slowly. Even if you have an escort helping you, keep your other hand on the handrail. Take your time. Put your whole foot on the step to make sure you have maximum balance. Watch." 

She walked up a few steps, pivoted on the steps and came back down, using exactly the same style she had told her about. 

"It really isn't hard. It's a matter of practicing until it feels natural," she said. "I'll be happy to help you any time you like."

Ruby listened to Simone and watched her standing while Aria looked after the babies she took a step like Simone had. She wobbled slightly then paused and did as Simone had suggested walking several steps then stopped and turned as Simone had " okay " she said and reached out to grab the couch back a she felt herself tip slightly."okay i'll keep practicing " she said walking back doing the heel toe back to the chair.

Aria watched and nodded as she got to where she was and turned around on the spot " bit more practice and you'll be walking like a pro" she said smiling to Simone " as Angus said at least your not walking around with book on your head " Ruby looked at Aria and chuckled a she walked back to the chair and sat back down to continue feeding Caprice.

Ruby looked to Angus " we could help with the basket, you wanted to find out more about the Fae treasure , we could do the basket while you talk to Minos." Ruby said

"That works," Angus said. "If I were you, I'd start with the newsstand and the bookstores in the village near the Edward's. There's also that women's boutique in the next block. Those shop keepers will know Rosaria and will know what books and magazines and snacks she likes and might be able to give you some good suggestions. More importantly, they'll be all written in Italian for her."

"Good idea," Simone said. "I've been to most of those with her, and you're right. They do know her. She's a regular at some of them. Besides, it's going to be a nice day, and its a good day for a short walk and a small shopping trip."

"Then, go, by all means, and I'll get with Minos. Will you be taking the babies with you? In case we go for the money?" he asked.

"We could take them, but it could be awkward if we end up doing any rock climbing or something," Marcus said. "I'll have trouble enough trying to keep Angus from overusing that shoulder by doing a lot of climbing up and down cliffs if it comes to it. If it looks like we'll get into that sort of territory, I'll very likely be asking Michael to come with us to assist. We could see if perhaps Shannon or someone at the main house might babysit. But you could use a couple of strollers or backpacks if you decided to take them along."

"Just let us know before you go so I know whether I'm planning to go for the money or whether I'm going for it," Angus said.

"Well," Simone laughed, "I can tell you Rosaria brags to the shop owners about her 'granddaughters' all the time. She considers your children to be her grandchildren, and she's showed them pictures and bragged all about them. They would be thrilled to get a chance to meet the Donohue babies."

"It's strange to have people making a fuss about them in a village in Tuscany and back home where they live, nobody cares," Angus said. "The Donohue name doesn't mean crap outside of the immediate area where the estate is."

"Not yet, but it will," Marcus said.

"That does not excite me," Angus said. "I am not seeking that sort of fame. I much prefer nobody giving a damn who I am."

Ruby listened to Angus and Simone and nodded her head " it would be good for them to get out and have some fresh air, might help then sleep at night" she said " and if the streets are flat or cobbled we can use the strollers but if not we'll use the carriers for safety" she added and looked at Aria " you coming?" she asked and Aria chuckled.

"of course" she said and looked to Marcus " I'm your body guard" she said smiling " where you go I go" she added parroting Marcus words to Angus with a chuckle " but for now you need to walk in those shoes to get use to them, no time like the present" she said and looked to Simone.

"Ruby," Simone said, "if I were you, I'd shrink a pair of sneakers and put them in your pocket so that if the heels just become completely unbearable, you can change to a pair of sneakers that you already have broken in. Aria is right that the only way to adjust to a pair of heels is to walk in them, and yes, you should give them a good try. If they just get so painful that you can't bear them another moment, though, at least you would have a backup pair. That's just my suggestion."

Angus got up and got out his sketch pad with the drawing of the map and also an atlas with a number of local maps in it, and he laid them on the coffee table. Then he went outside to talk to Minos about the money and the need to not forget it and to go find it. Minos was not even sure that it could be found or recovered. He was receiving word that other Fae kingdoms were feverishly hunting it. Angus, though, promised him they would do their best to find it. Minos had been studying his copies of Angus's drawings, and a number of maps, and he believed he had it narrowed down to an area in Scotland. He pointed out the area to Angus, and Angus looked it up on a topographical map.

"Marcus? We might need a rope, I think," Angus called.

"Oh boy. Sounds like fun," Marcus laughed, going outside. 

"Minos thinks we're right about here."

"You do realize that puts us into the mountains and into some of the most uninhabital places in Britain, right?" Marcus frowned.

"Well, look at it this way. There will be fewer muggles there."

"Oh, that makes me feel so much better," Marcus said sarcastically. "I think we need to get Michael to pack Hiss and we need some survival packs, climbing gear, hiking staffs, and some other gear."

"Fine by me," Angus said. Marcus went inside and opened the floo and raised Michael

"Hey, Michael, how would you like to go climbing in the nether regions of the Highlands--where not even the sheep go?" Marcus asked.

"Sounds like fun to me. How many of us are going?"

"So far? You, me, Angus, and some fae, most likely," Marcus said.

"Okay. Well, the Fae don't eat much. We will have to make sure we take whiskey, though. They do like that."

"Well, so do we," Marcus laughed.

"I'll pack a bag, and you two do the same. Let me know when you're ready."

"Will do. Thanks, Michael."

"Looking forward to it," Michael said, and Marcus turned off the floo.

Ruby looked at Simone and chuckled nodding her head "oh I will" she said and accioed her sneaker shrinking them she slipped them into her pocket " okay we should get the buggy out from down stairs and pack the girls diaper bags " she said seeing Aria stand and nod

"I'll grab the bags from the nursery and pack them up you two just make sure the girls are ready" she said looking to Simone " that's if you want to use the buggy or sling?" she asked Ruby chuckled and started to walk to the stairs to the basement to fetch the buggy that was still in its box. Ruby pulled it out and began attaching the wheels, soon she had it all up and ready for the girls.

Aria walke back down with two diaper bags and chuckled placing one on the back of the buggy and the second underneath in the basket below.

Marcus packed two backpacks for hiking and climbing while Angus assembled some climbing rations, knowing Michael would surely do the same. Marcus tucked in a couple magic wraps and a sling--just in case Angus's shoulder gave out. They double checked their supplies, and when they thought they had it, they contacted Michael who said he was on his way over. Minos had five Fae men with him, and Minos and one Fae settled into Angus's shirt pocket, two more in Marcus's and two more in Michael's. 

"I think we're ready," Angus said to Ruby. "I honestly don't know if we'll be able to be there and back yet today. Depending on where we have to go, we might need to set up a camp tonight. I'll try to reach you if I can do it at all. The good thing about it is that we'll have a lot of daylight and the weather shouldn't be horrible. I fully intend to find the Fae treasure and give it back to Minos where it belongs. In the meantime, I trust you can hold down the fort here, and you know Edward's here and Jessie is right next door. And, in a pinch, the boys and Anise can al bring a fierce fight if they need to. Can you think of anything I'm forgetting?"