Spring Flowers

John looked at Robert and held out his hand "thank you sir"he said now with a smile, turning to look at Kathrine he smiled "yes maam " he said moving back to the back door he ran out side giving a whoop as he jumped from her porch to the grass then ran back to the flower bed he had been working on. He had to admit Kathrine did have a good eye for flowers, he picked up a light pink flower and dug ahole glancing up at Robert and Katherine he smile broudly to them as he planted it.

"Thank you, Robert," Katherine kissed him, "You just lifted the weight of the world off that boy's shoulders. I'm going to go check on the pizzas." She disappeared to the kitchen.

"Next time I say stay behind me, don't come out," he told Khaat, laughing. "You really do look better without bruises on your face. And I think Rob would much more appreciate not having Abbey jeopardized any further. "

"I'm not trying to risk Abbey, Daddy. But she's okay? Really?"

"Really," he smiled. "You know the way that Lily Potter protected Harry? Well, I'm thinking that either your love or the love that you and Rob both have for her gives her some sort of extra strong shielding. Its one or the other. I dont think its her. I think its you--or both of you."

"And that protection goes away when she is born, doesn't it?"

"Not necessarily. It certainly didnt end for Harry, then. We'll just have to see." At that moment, Katherine called everyone for lunch. Robert looked out the front door and called John to come in and wash up for lunch.

John looked up hearing Robert call lunch "oow yummy pizza "he placed down his tool and ran indoors to th smell of pizza "mumm yummy " he said smiling at Robert and then glancing to Khaat "did you hurt your self ?" he asked as he walked over to her and looked at how she was laid "I'll get you your pizza" he said diving for the kitchen returning with a plate and a singel slice. moving carefuly he carried it to her

"I just sprained my knee, " she said, "I didn't move quickly enough. Thank you, John. You're wonderful. My father is a good healer. He says I'll be good as new in a couple of days. But I guess that means I can't get down on the ground to plant flowers. Looks like you'll have to do that all without me. But Mom and Dad can handle it, I think, with your help. Oh, and there are muggle colas in the fridge if you want one. Go help yourself. The other kids in the house seem to like them, so I keep them on hand. Just make yourself at home. And don't be shy around that pizza. You eat what you want."

John nodded and dove back into the kitchen returning with a plate with one slice on it but a second held in his hand wuith a bottle of coke, cheese streached from his mouth to the slice he had just bit "Mumm reall nice" he said sitting down cross legged on the floor the plate in front of him a habit he had become acustomed to for those six months he had been held captive. He took a second bite savering its flaver a smile on his face as he ate "dad ushually cooks stake or chicken, not pizza its yummy gonna have to tell him to get some in" he grinned his lips smotherd in the red sauce as he licked it from his lips

"Well, we live right next door, John," Katherine reminded him. "You and your dad are welcome to come join us for dinner any time. You know that. And when your new brother Andrew comes home, you'll have to bring him over and introduce him. Oh, and I baked some cinnamon cookies for dessert. Those are some of Khaat's favorites. I thought she might like them when she came home. "

John's fce lit up"yeah we do" he said thinking when he knew they were cooking pizza he'd insist his dad tok him around "hes coming for the holidays " he said looking at Khaat and smiling "he has a frog , can't wait to see it" he said biting down on the slice of pizza he held "maam how do you know its a girl in there, my mom told me she didn't know till i arrived" he said drinking some of his cola as he looked at Khaat.

"I do know. But how do you know?" she was interested in knowing how John knew. Maybe some of his own magical abilities were coming forward. "We've named her Abbey. We don't know what she's going to look like yet, but Rob--my husband--has already named her Abbey. We have her nursery all ready. Maybe when you're done eating, you'd like to see her room. Mom can take you up to see it if you like. I think it's all ready."

Sitting eating his pizza he just shrugged "I dunno, I just did "he said still eating "yeah, i'd like that " he said stuffing the last pisce into his mouth once that was chewed and swallowed he drank some cola to wash it down with, Picking up his plate he moved to pick up Khaats smiling as he did then quickly moved to the kitchen and back standing next to robert as he waited.

"Come on," Robert smiled, "I'll show you upstairs. " As he turned to walk up stairs the ottoman started to run around Robert's feet, barking and yipping. "You again," Robert laughed. "Khaat accidently cast a spell on her furniture and now it thinks its alive," he explained to John. "This ottoman thinks its a dog. "

"Otto," Khaat called it, laughing, "Down, Boy!" The ottoman ran back over to Khaat barking and yipping.

Robert sighed, exasperating, "You named it?"

"Well, why not? It went running with me one night, so I named it."

"Khaat, dear, you really shouldn't let your furniture run around the neighborhood," Robert said, "Come on, John. Who knows what we'll find upstairs? Its not harmful. Just overly friendly." He led the way upstairs.