THE WALKER RANCH

"This way, then." He took him across the yard, back into the woods, quite a long way, and soon he began hearing running water. "Not far now," he said. He led Steven to a clearing. It was oval, basically, in shape, and there were really no signs left that Khaat had spent so much of her childhood here with Remus. "Come look over here," Robert said. Just through some trees and bushes on the far side of the clearing was a large creek seemed to drape over a rocky hill and flow down to their level with a waterfall about 12 foot tall. It was responsible for the running water sound. "This is still one of the nicest places on the farm. One of Khaat's favorite spots," he said. "But this is where they camped. Both of these clearings."

Steven looked around listening to the quiet around him the sound of the running water reminding him of the creek he use to sit beside as a child " its beautiful " he said softly letting out a deep thought filled sigh as he spoke "this place is filled with natrual energy " she said softy so not to disterb the birds or animals around them " Your luck to have this place here, the boys will enjoy camping here " he smiled pushing his hands deep into his pockets he looked at the creek he showed him "is it good for fishin?" he asked "andrew and john both asked to fish ?"

"Sure. Remus and I used to fish here a lot. And I know he and Khaat had a lot of fish dinners out here when they were camping out. Remus was a survivior. He wanted Khaat to know how to survive in whatever situation he could think of. We actually sent her to Beauxbatons for her first few yaers of schooling to get more of that feminine energy into her life. But she got so homesick for us, that we brought her back to Hogwarts to be closer to home. I think we all have used this place for peace and quiet when we really wanted someplace special. It took Khaat a long time to acfually come back out here after Remus died. But when she did, it was peaceful for her, and she learned to love it without him."

Steven remained quiet instead walking to the other side of the clearing and looking out into the woods "Janet would have loved this place " he thought to himself as he lent on a tree he though back to the fun time they had camping back on the farm under the stars, and how with a rubber snake he ahd tricked her and made her laugh at the same time , how he missed those days , he had john and Andrew now, but he could not help but feel the pull of missing Janet. he knew he had to find something or one to take away the pain he felt.

"You ready to go back and gather up the boys for that fire? It'll be dark by the time we get back. I would think they would enjoy it," Robert said. "You know you're welcome here whenever you want. Between both our places, the boys ought to have enough space to play." He started the walk back, pulling out his wand, figuring he might need to light it before they got back.

Steven pulled hi self back and wiped his left eye where he felt a tear forming "yeah sure" he said turning to walk with Robert badk to the house he took put his wand and cast luminos to brighten there path he knew Robert has his out but thought he'd use his for teh light so they would not trip over any thing.

Stepping abck into the clear of the far he undid the luminos and slipped his wand back in his boot, walking over to teh fire pit and an empty chair , noticing john allready at holding a rainbow pigmy puff gently stroking its fur the pigmay puff see to like it as he heard a soft purring from it and smiled as he sat down.

Khaat and Katherine had cleared away the dinner dishes, put away the leftovers, and started the kitchen to cleaning itself. Khaat helped her mother serve dessert. Her mother had come up with a truly delicious pistachio cheesecake. The best of all worlds for Khaat's pregnancy cravings. She craved both cheesecake--usually Rob's--and pistachio ice cream. So Katherine put the two together and made a truly delicious dessert, and like neopolitan ice cream, it had a strawberry jam layer in between the cheesecake layer and the pistachio layer, and was topped with chocolate ganache. It was something Khaat was truly sorely tempted to swipe the recipe for, for Sparks. Katherine and Khaat served the cheesecake, and had pots of hot tea and hot coffee with mugs by the fire for those who wanted it. Khaat thought the cheesecake was absolutely divine.

John saw the cheese cake and nudged Andrew grinning " looks good " he said licking his lips s he took a plate and ate "Mumm nice Kathrne maam" he said finishing by licking his plate clean "mmmm yummy"

steven sat quiet drinking his tea he looked at the fire in front of him, he thought back to the day before the attack how janet had cooked an apple pie and they had sat in front of his open fire once John was asleep , his arm over her shoulders holding her close to him. he missed that closness from some one other than John and he wished he could get it again.

Khaat sat beside her father, just enjoying the fire and remembering the many, many bonfires they had had when she was a kid. Her mind was on Remus tonight. It was nice to remember him without much pain. She had enjoyed the cheesecake and was thinking Remus probably would have had a second piece before bed. She could still hear his laughter in her ears. It was as though part of him never left.

As she sat beside her father, Abbey started kicking her, harder than normal. She automatically laid her hand on her stomach, as if to quiet her. Her father, his senses ever trained on her, looked at her. "Abbey," she laughed, "She's extra ambitious tonight." He laid his hand on her stomach and laughed.

"Goodness, Abigail! Enough," he laughed. She seemed to quiet to his touch. "Better?" he asked.

"Much," she laughed.

"I have no idea what got into her," he said, "but she seems better now.You used to kick your mother like that every so often."

Steven looked up as he saw Robert walk over to Khaat and place his hand on her belly , he smiled as he told the unborn child to quiet down. He rembered doing that with Janet when she carried John , he rembered how he use to love feeling john kick against his hand or if he lay on her tummy his ear. Turning back he looked again at te fire as he took a sip of his coffee.

John stroked the ranbow pigmy puff "Khaat is this a girl or a boy?" he asked holding it up to show her the purrng ball of ranbow fluff he held