Khaat was curled up comfortably with Brian and was half asleep as he played with her hair. It made her feel safe and secure and very, very happy. Part of her worried that if Brian kept seeking Tasha and her new companion, she would end up losing him. He had reassured her time and time again that she and Abbey would never have to worry about anything again ever in their lives, whether anything happened to him or not. She didn't care about that for one moment. She could be very happy in her little Hogsmeade cottage, which Angus told her her father had rented out, on her behalf to an old friend, Michael Tremaine. Khaat didn't mind that. She liked Michael, and her belongings were safe with Michael. All but perhaps Otto. She didnt think Michael had any sense of humor for an enchanted footstool that thought it was a cocker spaniel. Well, on second thought, the always-snarky hat rack might end up as firewood too, unless her father had forbid Michael from harming or changing the furniture. She hoped he had told Michael that he could not harm her enchanted furniture.
"Oh, by the way, Brian," Khaat said softly, more asleep than awake, "I forgot to tell you--Michael Tremaine has moved back. He's renting my cottage."
"Thank you for warning me," he said. "I like him, but I think I'll hide your jewelry all the same."
"He would never touch my jewelry."
"A thief with morals? Since when?"
"Well, since Michael. Well, sort of. He sort of has his own rules to live by."
"Antisocial. Now, that sounds like the Michael I know."
"He's not exactly antisocial...."
"Close enough. Don't get me wrong. I like him. There are certain things that I just would not like him to know we have. They would tempt him. Believe me...."
"Brian?" she said, so far asleep now, he could barely understand her.
"Yes?"
"Can we forget Tasha exists? Please?"
"Yes. For now," he said, soothing her, allowing her to fall asleep in the safety of his arms. She fell asleep soundly.
"Can I just say that I have never seen either of you happier?" Angus asked quietly, putting a cup of coffee for Brian on the end table between the two beds.
"Then, if that's the case, she's been happy all her life. She seems like the same old Khaat to me," Brian said honestly.
"Sometimes you're a bit dense, Brian," Angus said.