Tuscany Trip

Khaat was excited that she was finally going to Tuscany. And it did not bother her one bit that Rob was not with her. She had Brian and her friends. Brian had promised her a seaside villa that was close to vineyards and olive groves and everything she had expected. He had taken her shopping for some new vacation clothes and had bought new luggage for her. He said hers looked shabby. And, well, it did.

Her parents were delighted she was going, and they had taken the babies and Archangel for her. They were happy that she was moving forward with her life and truly enjoying it. They told her to stay as long as she liked.

When they arrived at the villa, its beauty took Khaat's breath away. It was everything she expected and so much more. Beautiful landscaped grounds and trees, a path leading from their old Italian tower to the shore, private sunbathing decks, breathtaking rooms inside. She could not have asked for anything closer to the fantasy of Italy in her mind.

She watched him wave for their luggage to follow, and he took her hand and led her to the house. "I think you're going to like this," he smiled.

OOC: "if you like that sort of thing'? what? she doesn't like it? or is it steven who doesn't like it? i'm having a hard time understanding these two. i don't get it. they don't like brians house, they don't like the villa. what's up with them?


Khaat noticed that Brian had had the place well prepared for them. There were bouquets of fresh flowers everywhere, and every door and window was open to let in the fragrant sea air. She went to check out the prestocked kitchen, stocked by her Brian's men for them, as Brian took their luggage to their separate rooms. All the foods were the finest around, the best of everything, amazingly fresh. He was treating her like a queen. Brian was everything that Rob was not. So why did they not, either of them, have the slightest romantic feeling for eath other? Ever? The thought of dating Brian made her feel like it wasn't right, like she would be dating her brother. It was perplexing. Now, when she thought about dating, her first thoughts somehow, strangely, went to Vincent. She sighed heavily. She really was going to have to have a talk with herself about that.

She opened a bottle of the finest Italian prosecco and found where the champagne flutes were kept. "Champagne, anyone?" she asked, pouring herself and Brian a glass.

"Steven sometimes thinks everything has to have a cowboy hat on it," Khaat teased, laughing.

"Thank you," Brian said. "My work takes me all over the world, as Khaat may or may not have told you. When Khaat said she wanted to come to Tuscany, well, I just looked for what she would like, and I bought it. Actually, Khaat, ..." he opened a drawer in the kitchen and drew out a set of papers and handed them to her. "Here. For you."

"What's this?" she frowned. She opened the paperwork. It was a deed to the villa, and it had both her name and Brian's listed on it as joint owners. "Brian! What did you do?" she asked, wide eyed.

"Your own little place in paradise," he kissed her forehead. "Just for you." He handed her a set of keys. He'd had a replica of the tower villa made in gold and it hung gracefully from a set of housekeys. It matched 6 other sets. He had a set that he left in the Paris office as a master set so that his men could maintain the property for him, one in his pocket, one that he had given to Robert for safekeeping, and three for guests. He laid 2 more sets out on the breakfast bar. "Here. A set for each of you while we're here," he told Steven and Ronata.

"So, I have a lot of reasons to celebrate with champagne," Khaat said softly. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Anything for you, Babe," he smiled. "You know that."

"Oh," Brian said, "by the way, there are two cars down in the garage. There is a red Lamborghini, and the other is a silver one. I presume you do know how to drive a standard transmission in a muggle sportscar, right, Steven? If so, you can have use of the silver one while we're here. That one's mine. We'll keep the red one. That one,..." he said, dangling another golden key chain in front of Khaat, "belongs to Khaat."

She raised her eyebrows at Brian. "A..a what? A Lamborghini? For me? Brian, you shouldn't have..."

"Oh yes I should have. You have had enough time in your life being treated like Rob Dent's welcome mat. The night we delivered Abbey I told you that you would never want for a thing again in your life. I mean to keep that."

"But..I..I thought you were just talking about a place for us to stay!.." she stammered as he pressed the luxury car's keys into her hand. "I..."

"No. I wasn't. You need more things in your life than a roof over your head. I meant it exactly as I said it. You and Abbey will never want for anything. Ever. '

"I don't know what to say..." she said, lost.

"Don't say anything. You don't have to," he smiled. He looked at Steven and Ronata, "There are also 4 bicycles and 4 motorcycles in the garage as well. Help yourself. And I've rented a sailboat for us down at the marina we passed on the way in. I thought perhaps someone might like sailing while we're here."

"Alright," Brian said, " Sounds good to us. We're here to have a good time. But for now, I presume you two are old enough to take care of yourselves. Oh, and..." he drew out a map of the local area and laid it on the breakfast bar. "You might want to take this with you...just in case. As for me, I am going to take my lady out to see Tuscany. Its a trip she's wanted her whole life, and she deserves to see the local area. Steven, there is a full tank of gas in the silver car. Help yourself."

"Will you two be alright if we go out for a bit?" Khaat asked, not wanting to leave them if, for some odd reason, they wanted them to stay.