Escape to Brian Quinn's

"Thank you," Khaat smiled. "Tell me you didn't let these two boys beat on each other. Every so often they seem to need to maime each other. I wish they'd both grow up. I'm tired of them doing this to each other, telling me its just male bonding, and then needing to patch each other up or needing me to do it. They were screwed last night because I couldn't help them. Maybe there might be an advantage to being a muggle for awhile." She scowled at both Brian and Robert.

"She's in fine form today," Brian laughed. "I dont' see a problem. Do you?"

"Nope. Not a one. Must be a female thing," Robert laughed. "Thank you for the coffee, Steven. I surely needed it, and I know Brian and Khaat did too."

Khaat just shook her head, disgusted with them.

steven smiled "what woud you have me do stand in between and get killed , I did manage to stop Brian being almost killed" he said chukaling as he stood back with his own coffee looking at both "and I use the term loosly" he chuckled "you do know this is more than likly gonna happen again , right" he looked at both Robert and Brian as he took a sip of the coffee and savered its flavor "now thats good coffee" he said chuckaling.

Khaat gave dirty looks again to both Robert and Brian. Brian looked at Robert and said, "She acts like this comes as a surprise to her. And Steven is right. Its not the first, and it won't be the last. "

"Well, and it has been a lot worse. I thought we came out of it actually better than most," Robert laughed.

"We did," Brian agreed.

"And the rest of the men of the organization missed the whole show."

"Yeah, they get a giggle out of seeing me trounced once in awhile," Brian said dryly.

"Yeah? And when I get my powers back, I'm going to trounce both of you."

"Big talk for a muggle on bedrest," Robert sighed.

"Hm..I don't know. I think she just might do it," Brian laughed, "What do you think, Steven?"

Steven looked at brian and smiled "ow I think she could " he said wiking at Khaat as he took another sip of his coffee and chuckled "just make sure that match is at base I'd love for the other men to whitness it" he coud not help but yawn as the coffee he hed had little effect on his tired ness "Robert you wouldn have anything that would keep me awake abit longer would you?" he asked sighing as he rubbed his face to rid it of the sleep he felt "Im feeling like a bit like a walking zombie right now".

Khaat looked at him, "What is it you need to stay awake for, Steven? I know you have been working here, but maybe you need to go home and get some sleep before you get to a lot of your farm chores. There is a potion, but it only is effective for a few hours, if Daddy even has it here. The reason we don't make it stronger is because its not healthy in the long run to go without sleep. Do you even have it here?" she looked at her father.

"When do I not, Khaat? Its in my bag in my room. Are you sure you just don't want to follow Khaat's advice, Steven? Are you sure you want this? Oh, and taking back to back doses will make you sick. Trust me on that. And it is definately not pleasant."

Steven sighed " I would go home and rest but Jack sems to have poofed, unless brian you have a spare room I could lay down in for a couple of hours , that way Im till here if needed and not taking the potion" he looked at the others hoping this would solve the problem as he really needed to sleep . He took a second sip of coffee and watched them "wouldn't want to be sick " he said softly

"Brian has more rooms in this place than he'll ever use," Khaat said.

"I guess I do," Brian laughed, "And if you want real peace and quiet, there is also the guest house. You could hear a pin drop in there its so quiet. Robert has the room next to Abbey, and I have the room next to Khaat. Any other bedroom in the house is fair game. Use whatever you like. Make yourself at home. We should have breakfast arriving from Lizzie at Sparks at any moment. In fact, it might already be here. You want to eat before you sleep? You're welcome to go fix yourself a plate, if it's here."

steven shook his head " no thanks , gives me ight mares if i eat before sleeping, yeah I know strange but it does" he finished his coffee and placed his cup down on the tray " well if you'll excuse me time I found this spare room and crashed for a couple of hours." he nodded to them all and walked out the door he saw one door left to his right and walked over to it , pushing it open he saw a comfortable bed waslking over he sat down and kicked off his shose he lay down the light turned off and he closed his eyes sliping into a much needed sleep.

Khaat and Robert and Brian all ate in Khaat's room, and Brian poiked his head into Abbey's room long enough to tell Jack and Emmy that breakfast had arrived. Today Robert allowed Khaat a new freedom. He conjured a stone bench in her large roomy shower and allowed her to go sit and take her time showering by herself. Being able to shower by herself was such a treasured thing, that she decided to just linger under the water after she was done scrubbing herself and washing her hair, just to enjoy the sensation of the water on her skin. It lifted her spirits and made her feel better than she had felt in days.

She noticed, as she was drying off, the new blue silk gown her father had left her in the bathroom on the back of the door. Her mother had clearly replaced the one her father had torn to stop the bleeding on her wrist. She was grateful. Her mind went to Rob and Jen as she dressed. They never understood family. They never had a family who gave a crap, so why should either one of them know how to function in one? She had not known enough about Rob when she married him or his family. All she knew was what her heart had told her, and she had followed it blindly. Like an idiot.

Life at Brian's was so much more than what she had at Hogsmeade. She wasn't alone here. The house was enormous and richly appointed, far beyond what Khaat could afford. And it was beautiful--inside and out. She was beginning to think perhaps she needed to consider Brian's offer to stay here indefinately. LIfe in a village like Hogsmeade would be hard for Abbey, given the circumstances. People in small towns always seemed to like to know more than their rightful share of their neighbors' business. And that was something she and Abbey neither one needed.

"Khaat!" Brian interrupted her thoughts. "You get lost in there or something?"

"No, just enjoying it," she replied.

"Come on out. Let's see how well you walk today."

She obeyed, and found she could walk a bit on her own, but she frequently, reached out and clutched him for support, unsteady.

"Better. Much better, "He smiled. "But you're not ready to go very far on your own. You'll be on your own two feet again in no time now. You want to go outside?"

"Can I?"

"This is your home now too. You can do what you like. If you want to go out, then, fine." He took her outside and settled her on a lounge chair. As glad as she had been to see if she could walk, she was glad to also be able to rest. She spent the morning outside, getting some sun. Brian waqas generous with the sunscreen so she didn't burn. And she liked being outside. He let her eat lunch there. Chicken salad sandwiches from sparks on croissants, with large tossed salads, and strawberry iced tea. She noticed she had not seen her father all morning, since breakfast. Brian told her Robert had gone in to St. Mungos. She didn't like him being torn in so many directions.

steven woke feeling refreshed and alert he could still smell food hanging in the air making his stomach grumble . He accioed a fresh set of clothng and quickly dressed pausing to make the bed behind him before heading down to teh kitchen he smiled as she smelt the food , taking aplate he dished up some and re heated it he never liked warm food. Sitting on one of the my stools he began to eat while he read the paper , not much was happening at the moment ecept for the party Khaat wanted to go to it was all the news, speculations about wether she'd be there nd who she would show with all the blah bah . Steven turned th page to teh sports and read about the quiditch tornaments and who was winning.