Tuscany Trip

Brian took Khaat back to her room and closed the door. "Sit," he told her, sitting her at the foot of the bed. He laid his hand on her forehead.

"This is what you wanted?" she frowned. "I'm fine."

"Hush," he said, not paying attention to her. "I have to know for myself." After a moment he said, "She kicked the stuffing out of you. You're going to be bruised from one end to the other. I don't find any broken bones. You were lucky."

"Okay. So you didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. How did you get rid of her, then?"

He sighed heavily. "If I tell you, you have to keep yourself together. "

"As best I can. When do I not keep myself together?"

"I don't exactly know what is going on. All I know is that your father has somehow torn the can right off some volitile can of worms. He's working on something that he wants me to provide you the very best protection I know how to do. He seems to be hiding everyone he loves in order to protect them while he clears this up. He's telling me nothing. I've seen him a couple of times since we've been here, but he hasn't said a word that is helpful--except that we have to stay out of it and let him handle it. "

"That makes no sense."

"I know. But he is crystal clear on that much. And that's about all he's clear on. When you were getting the snot kicked out of you, he appeared, and he let her go."

"Let her go!! Is he crazy!!""

"I know, I know. But she clearly was terrified of him. They've met before. That's obvious. And he did his 'big bad evil guy' act for her. Still fairly impressive, though."

"Oh fine," she sighed. "So what do we do, then?"

"I don't see that we have a choice. I think we have to hang in until we know something more. You sure you're alright?" he brushed her cheek.

"What's with you?" she frowned. "I'm fine."

"I don't know if I know. I..." he began and stopped.

"Tell me."

"Part of me went back to when you were 16. When Remus died and I nearly lost you for good. I wasn't prepared that day, and I wasn't prepared today. I don't ever want to feel like that again."

"Brian," she said very softly. "If it's my turn, then its my turn. Stop. Just enjoy being with me now. "

"Not good enough. Not nearly good enough." He turned and left quickly. She sighed heavily, hearing him go to his room aross the hall and shut the door quietly. She didn't know what had resurrected his past pain, but she didn't like it. It wasn't like him. She needed to reach him somehow.

Brian had to do a lot of soul searching to find himself. That had been a lot of years ago, and it surprised him to find the wounds fresh again. He had truly believed that had healed years ago. He had gotten used to spending his life alone, and now he felt like he had a family. He shared his home now with a beautiful woman and 2 beautiful little girls. It was never something he believed he would ever, ever have. He did not want to lose Khaat and Abbey and Dakota. Not ever. It didn't have to be love. He could never afford love. But Khaat was family. And that had always meant something. She was the closest thing he had to a permanent relationship. Well, Khaat and Robert and Katherine.

Khaat left Brian alone for quite awhile and then walked across the hall and let herself in, without invitation. She found him watching the waves tearing at the shore as the storm raged outside. She walked up behind him and put her arms around his waist. "You don't have to be alone forever, Brian. I am strong enough to stand with you."

"I know," he said softly. "I think I wasn't sure if I was strong enough to stand with you."

"Look at me," she said, turning him around. He took her face in his hands.

"I would never, ever allow you to be hurt. Not ever. You know that," he said softly.

"I do. Brian, whatever this is, whatever is going on, let's not let my father do this to us. Let's not let him tear us apart. You and I are better than this. We are. I know it. We've faced tougher. Come on. In terms of what you and I have been through, this is nothing. " He nodded. He kissed her forehead softly.

"You're right. Ok. We fight."

"When do we not?" she asked, laughing. That made him laugh. He led her downstairs, his arm around her protectively. The kitchen was empty. He helped her boil the fresh pasta, set the table, and serve up salad in bowls with fresh croutons and shavings of Parmesan cheese. They served the salad and got out the garlic bread that Khaat had toasted and served it on a platter that was covered to keep the bread warm. They would serve the spaghetti bolognese after the salad course. Brian shouted up the stairs that lunch was ready. He somewhat feared their timing might not be all that great, but if they weren't hungry, he trusted they just woudn't see them. Brian chose to make a non alcoholic sparkling drink with club soda and fresh berry juice. It was tasty and clean and fresh and delicious.

Brian and Khaat were beginning to feel like they were interruping a honeymoon instead of a four way vacation. The only graceful thing to do was to ignore it. They diverted the conversation to small talk, the storm, the trip, possible sightseeing options and more. Brian was delighted with the fresh made bolognese sauce and the fresh genuine Italian pasta. He ate more than usual, until he was pleasantly stuffed. He started to relax just a tiny bit.

He and Khaat volunteered to clean up the lunch mess after lunch was over. It would give them a way to pass the time. They definitely didn't have the same schedule for the day that Steven and Ronata apparently had. Their plans were to clean up the lunch dishes and then start planning out some additional sightseeing, something that had enough flexibility so that if Steven and Ronata wanted to continue to be, basically, newlyweds, they could enjoy some private time as well. Khaat and Brian wanted this to be a good trip for everyone.

"Hey, its your vacation too," Brian smiled. He was not about to set any sorts of requests or limits on anyone else. Besides, it had not been that long ago when Steven was so desperate to have a companion again that he believed Steven needed to simply deal with this in whatever way he felt best. "We're all here to enjoy ourselves,"he said. "I plan to break out a backgammon board I saw down in the game room and beat Khaat soundly."

"Oh, you do, do you?" she raised her eyebrows at him. "That's because you're afraid to challenge me at billiards."

"Me? Afraid? No, I just don't want to take advantage of a wounded woman. I'd have to spot you some points to keep from you being disgraced too badly."

"You and what army!" she retorted. "You're on, Buddy! Me and you! After lunch. Looser is a teacup."

"Decide now what color you want to be," he glared at her.

Brian led the way downstairs to the game room in the basement. There was a huge beautiful pool table there. Brian waved his hand and the pool balls set themselves in place and two cues came down from the rack. Khaat picked up a cube of cue chalk and twisted it around the tip of her cue. "Oh, look here at the pro," Brian laughed.

"Laugh all you want." she smiled sweetly.

"Ladies first," he motioned for her to go ahead and break.

"Thank you," she smiled back. Clearly the challenge was on between them. She placed the cue ball in place and aimed carefully. She realized she was hurting, and the bending over the pool table made her ribs sear in pain. She straightened, stretched gently, and tried again. She managed to sink a solid colored ball first and managed to sink several others at the same time before she surrendered her turn to Brian.

"Your turn, I believe," she said.

Brian and Khaat fought back and forth for every point. Khaat sank the last solid colored pool ball, with only one striped pool ball remaining on the table. Brian groaned, losing the war.

"Blue, please," he sighed.

"Hm...No, on second thought, I'll spare you this time, " she smiled.

"You still want to play against her?" Brian asked Steven and Ronata.