Tuscany Trip

'We're not giving him dessert duty," Brian said. "We'll end up with that package of chocolate chip cookies in the cabinet for dessert. That's about all he'll do." Brian felt comfortable in teasing Steven because he knew Steven would just either take it or tease back.

"I say we go to Venice maybe tomorrow if the weather is good. What do you two think? I think we can cover Khaat's bruises with a glamour spell enough to fool the muggles. And there are enough romantic spots for you two to have some time alone and plenty for Khaat and I to do too. I think we should do that. It would be a fun trip and I think we could all use a little fun. Besides that, I don't want this trip to go by without us seeing Venice. I know how much it means to Khaat, for one. And I'm sure we all want to go. Should we try it?"

"I think I'll surprise her with it," Brian smiled. "What do you think? I think she deserves, for one day, to be treated like a princess. And, Steven, if you're any sort of a gentleman you'll treat Ronata like one too. Khaat has dreamed of going to Venice since she was a little girl. I think we should stay a couple of days and do this right.

"I think I'll pack for her, somehow, without her knowing I did it, and then surprise her entirely. Hm...I think I know how to do it too. Steven, could you keep an eye on the ladies while I apparate into the village and make some phone calls to make some hotel reservations for us?"

Brian nipped off to town to make his arrangements for the Venice trip. Khaat finished her bubble bath and put on a white silk spaghetti strap gown trimmed in lace and added a handpainted white silk robe that had a beautiful garden scene painted on it. Green grass and flowers bordered the bottom, and flowers came up to about her knees. Butterflies, birds and dragonflies were embroidered against the white silk elsewhere. It had been her very favorite robe for years. She put on a pair of white silk flat slippers and brushed out her hair until it glistened and shone.

Then she came back downstairs, bringing her dessert plate with her. She felt a lot more human. And that gown and robe always was something that made her feel pretty. Even if she was covered in bruises. The robe was a nice reminder that the bruises were temporary.

She poured herself a glass of iced tea and asked Steven and Ronata, "Where did Brian go?" It wasn't like him to leave her. Not ever.

"Oh, leave him out of it," Khaat laughed. "I'll show you where I get these sorts of things. Silk is my favorite fabric. Silk and cotton. I know that sort of sounds like they don't go together, but they're both natural fabrics, so I prefer them. There are a couple of rather exclusive little places I go to get these things. Some in London and some in Paris. We could take a day and go shopping. I have a portkey for Paris. It wouldn't be any big problem at all. Some of the best things come from a little shop in Paris that I really like a lot. And they have a freelance artist that paints a lot of things on plain colored garments. She prefers to work on silk, but she can work on other fabrics too. We can see if she can do something for you if you want. I don't have a lot of her things because they are rather expensive, but this one is probably my favorite. I've had it a long, long time."

Brian made reservations for them for Venice and had managed to secure some outstanding accomodations. Of course it cost him some additional money to get what he wanted, but he knew what he wanted and wasn't settling for less. He managed to get two of the most beautiful hotel suites in Venice for them and the finest in 5 star accomodations and service for every moment they were in Venice.

He'd taken some extra liberties too and arranged some special things. He slipped into Khaat's room and, hearing her talking with Steven and Ronata, he took enough of her things to pack for her, knowing that she had done enough shopping that she would not miss them. He took everything she would need for a few short days away and took them to his room. He prowled around in her room enough to know exactly what she would want or need and he took it and hid it away in his room. He would pack for them both later.

Then, he apparated outside and walked into the house as if he had just gotten back. "It is a beautiful night," he smiled. "We should be sitting outside. If it were not getting so late, I would suggest we do exactly that."