Tuscany Trip

"Good morning," Khaat smiled, "I like your dress, too. "

Brian picked up his bang, their only luggage, off the sofa. "I guess we're ready now," he said. He handed Steven just a tiny ordinary seashell. "Portkey," he said. "That will get you to breakfast," he said. "Use your medallion if anything goes wrong or you get lost on the way," he said. "I'll find you. We'll see you there."

Brian offered Khaat his arm, and said to Steven and Ronata, "We'll see you in a moment." He apparated the two of them to a beautiful little cafe on the edge of St. Mark's Square. Life was starting to bustle here already, even this early in the morning. Khaat smelled the sea air, mixed with smells of coffee and wonderful little Italian pastries.

"Welcome to Venice," he said softly, kissing her cheek.

"Venice! Really?" she looked at him, excited, "You did it! We finally made it. You're wonderful." She leaned over and kissed him. She had never kissed him on the lips before, but in her excitement she forgot herself, and she had kissed him.

"You're very welcome," he laughed. "For the next few days, you are my princess. I'm treating you like royalty every step of the way."

"What about Ronata...."she began.

"She's Steven's issue," he laughed heartily. "He's very capable of making her feel like royalty. I like her, but she's not my princess. You are. She's his princess. Come on. They'll be right here in a moment. Let's go get our table."

He had made a reservation for four at one of the streetside tables. The waiter seated them and brought fresh coffee for the two of them while they waited.

Brian had already ordered breakfast for Khaat and himself, feeling that since he had seen Steven take Ronata off in another direction--towards Frank's, that he had decided to surprise her with a quickie wedding. He wanted to let the two of them have time alone. He was slightly hurt that he and Khaat had not been invited to the ceremony when they had opened their home to Steven and Ronata for so many weeks, and he didn't want Khaat's trip to already be spoiled by their decision to proceed without them. He had the waiter remove the other two placesettings and chairs and change their table for a table for two.

He knew Steven knew where the hotel reservations were, so when they finished their breakfast, Brian simply paid for it, and held out his hand to her. "Come," he said softly. "There is so very much for you to see here." She took his hand and they left the cafe. She thought the delicate pastries and the coffee had been wonderful.

He walked her over to the Basilica Di San Marco, knowing she had wanted to see it. It was just a short walk from the cafe and he decided he was going to show her everything she wanted to see. He led her inside. For Khaat, the deeply quiet and reverent atmosphere was one of the most wonderful things she could ever imagine. All the hundreds of years of prayers and faith had come together here. The most important events of thousands of lives, all under one roof. It impressed her.

"It's very beautiful," Brian agreed. He had let Khaat walk a short distance away from him in the crowd towards the front of the sanctuary. His eyes were ever watchful for trouble. "She's wanted to see this her whole life, I think. You don't owe us any apologies," Brian said, shoving his feelings aside. They had already made their choice. What was done was done. He refused to let anyone hurt Khaat, even if it was just from a bit of thoughtlessness.

"Go enjoy your day," Brian smiled. He was not hiding the fact that he knew they were married. What was the point of that? "This is not a day for you two to be burdened with anyone else. You know which hotel we have reservations at. Go enjoy yourselves. We'll see you tomorrow if you like."

What else could Brian do at this point? No one wanted ever to spend their wedding day with other people once the ceremony was over. That was private time then. Time for the bride and groom to be alone. Brian and Khaat would be intruding now, and he didn't want any part of that. And he knew that if Khaat knew, she would insist on giving them the day for themselves.

"She's not been gone more than a moment, " Brian said. He went outside with Steven, and sent Steven to the right, and he went to the left. He hadn't gone far when he found her. She was lying in a back alley in a pile of crates. He knew she was hurt. He didn't have time to wait for Steven to catch up. He quickly laid his hand on her and apparated her away.

He took her to a small, wizarding clinic hidden in a villa offf one of the narrow side streets, deep in the city, away from the canals and the tourists. It was not nearly as posh as St. Mungos had become, but it was serviceable.

"Brian!" one of the wizard healers met him there. "What's happened?"

"An attack. She's pregnant. See to her and send me the bill to the usual place. I'll find her husband and send him along. "

"Here," the healer handed him a euro. Brian recognized it as another little portkey. This one had a little hole drilled right in the center of it. The healer took Ronata, put her on a gurney and took her away in a hurry. Brian apparated back to the alley and then apparated into the other one on the other side of the basillica where Steven had gone looking for Ronata.

"Steven," Brian called. He went up to him and pressed the small portkey into his hand. "She's safe for the moment. Go. I cannot leave Khaat unguarded. I'll be along when I can." He left him there and quickly returned to inside the basillica and began looking for Khaat. His heart was beating in panic now because she had been alone. This was a handy distraction, and he knew it. He'd messed up again by going with Steven one more time. Damn it.

He could feel her essence here. She was still here, but it was crowded here now, and she would not be easy to find. He scanned the room, all eyes, all his senses, desperate to find her. This was not right. He should never have left her. He was kicking himself for being so unprofessional. This was just what he would have arranged himself if he had been hunting someone. He began searching every little nook and cranny. He eventually found her lying in an unconscious heap in a confessional. He knelt beside her. She clearly had put up a good fight and had fought off whoever wanted to hurt her. He shut the door quickly, closing them inside together. "Rennervate!" he cast the spell to bring her conscious.

She woke to find Brian there with her. "You okay?" he asked, laying his hand on her forehead.

"I am now. She was here," Khaat sighed.

"She had to have followed us," Brian sighed. "I should have expected it. I"m sorry. Khaat, I need to hire you someone better...."

"Stop. I want you..."

"But..."

"No. Its you or nobody at all."

"Come on. Let's get out of here. They used Ronata as a distraction. They roughed her up to draw us off of you. I sent Steven after her. "

Brian led Khaat out of the basillica, but as they hit the sunlight, he saw that she really wasn't looking well. He looked into her face. She had taken another hit to the head. She wasn't well at all.

"Come with me," he said softly. He led her into the alley where he had found Ronata and didn't find much but her bouquet that had been tossed aside. He picked it up. There was nothing more. Khaat looked at Brian, confused.

"He married her this morning," Brian said quietly.

"Oh," was Khaat's only quiet reply. He took hold of her arm and apparated her into the same small clinic where he had taken Ronata.

The same healer came out when he felt someone else apparate in. "Brian? Back again?"

"This is Robert's daughter...."

"Come. Quickly," he said, leading them into a room that was being used as a treatment room. Brian sat Khaat down on the table there and let the healer check her. "This is not her first blow to the head lately, Brian. Robert warned us when we heard you were coming. She can't take many more of these. It's starting to add up."

"What is?" Khaat frowned. "Simon?" she began to recognize the man.

"Yes, Dear. Your father asked me to look out for you. let me draw off that headache. But you might have to find something else to do besides sightseeing this afternoon." He laid his hands along her head and drew off the pain and dizziness. "That is temporary. But you know that. You need to rest. Your friend will be here at least 24 to48 hours."

"Simon, can you watch her for a bit?" Brian asked.

"LIke she was my own, Mate," He smiled at Brian. "Third room on the left upstairs."

Brian went upstairs and found Steven sitting with Ronata. "Sorry. I had to leave you. Simon's a good healer. he'll take good care of her."