Snowflakes and Shopping Bags

Khaat had gotten up rather early, unable to sleep for some odd reason. She'd gotten up before light, letting Brian sleep. The girls were fast asleep and the house was quiet. Even Angus seemed to be relatively deep in sleep. He'd left his door ajar, and Khaat had seen he seemed to be far away from the wizarding world at the moment.

She went downstairs, wrapped in a vanilla velvet robe that Brian had bought for her, and made coffee. The robe reminded her that he had firmly told her that the bigger house could, from time to time, get drafty when the weather got cold. And it was cold this morning.

She'd taken a couple of cups and a carafe of coffee back upstairs and had curled up on the sofa, looking out across the estate, just soaking up the silence. She saw that, just before daylight, it started to snow. The first snowflakes of the season. It was silent and beautiful.

Brian stirred at daylight and got up and came over to her. She began to hear sounds of Angus's waking and rising from his room as well. "So, what's got you up so early?" Brian asked, filling the other mug with coffee. He kissed her cheek.

"I have no idea," she smiled at him.

"I have a gift for you to wear today when you go out. Your cloak is not going to be enough." He went to his closet and produced a black suede coat with fur trim. The coat went clear to the ground and had a full hood. "For you. I want you to have better winter clothes."

"Brian! Its beautiful," she said. She got up and tried it on. It was a perfect fit.

"You'll find new black suede gloves and boots in your closet," he smiled.

"You're the best," she said, kissing him.

"Go get dressed. I'll check on the girls."

She chose a pair of well fitting brown slacks and a beige v necked cashmere sweater. She found the black suede boots and finished dressing. By then she smelled breakfast. Eggs, toast, bacon. It smelled good. Brian clearly had the girls up. She could hear them chattering at him happily as he carried them downstairs.

She tucked her wand in her boot and Brian's credit card in her pocket and picked up her coat and gloves and went downstairs.

"You're just in time. Breakfast is ready," Brian said. "And I expect Jess and Ronata here any minute."

"Then I don't have time to eat."

"Of course you do. Sit. There's plenty. And if they're not hungry, they really will wait for you."

"Thank you. And yes. Brian said I need better winter clothes. I think we are ready," Khaat smiled. She laid down her fork and took one more drink of her coffee. "Marvelous breakfast, Angus. Thank you."

"You're very welcome," Angus smiled, putting on his black leather duster coat. He picked up Khaat's coat. "Your coat, Milady?"

"Yes, please," Khaat said, smiling. She put the new coat on and fastened it shut. Brian handed her her new black suede gloves.

"You," he looked into her eyes, "bring back some more warm winter clothes for yourself. You do need warmer clothes. Winter clothes that fit. Do not come home without them. You two hear me, Jess and Ronata? What she has is not warm enough and its too big. Outfit her for cold weather and the fact that this house can sometimes get a bit drafty as big as it is. Don't let her come home with just Christmas decorations. Understand? I don't care what it costs if she's warm enough."

Khaat apparated to Diagon Alley and found she was actually a shop down from where Jess and Ronata had landed. She walked over to them. The shops were brightly decorated for the holidays and it was always a look Khaat enjoyed seeing year after year. Put her in the mood for the holidays.

"Well, where should we start?" she asked. "Since we came for Christmas decorations, should we start there? I know I want a lot of lights and bright colors, and I'm hoping the shop gives me ideas from there. I don't know if the girls will notice much except maybe lights this year. Jess, you said you're doing fruit this year. Ronata, what are you using for your decorating theme?"

Khaat was delighted by the sights and smells and sounds of the Christmas shop. Christmas carols played from an enchanted music box, and the light and tinkling notes filled the store. The smell of Christmas spices were lovely, and the way the light played off the beautiful ornaments no matter where she looked, well, it all was breathtaking.

"Jess, you were right," Khaat smiled. "It's everything I imagined and more." She began walking slowly through the store, trying to take it all in. It took her right back to feeling like a little girl again. "There is something beyond my imagination when the magic of Christmas combines with the magic of the wizarding world. This is how I'd like Abbey's world to be all the time. This is wonderful."

She began fingering a garland on one of the decorated trees. The garland looked like an endless strand of pearls. The ornaments were spectular. She was completely taken with it. "I might have to do something like this," she said softly, imagining it on a huge tree that would perhaps just brush the top of the living room's tall vaulted ceiling.

"It's a pleasure, Mr. Jones," Khaat smiled as she shook hands with Jones. "You look like you very well may have everything I require. Especially if you have some very tall trees. Oh, Angus, I didn't measure how tall I needed for the living room!"

"I did," Angus laughed. "Relax. 16 feet, Mr. Jones."

"And I will want a number of other trees for other rooms in my house. I made a list." Angus took the list from her, double checked it and handed it to Jones.

"You'll see she's also added a request for all the garland she needs as well as a number of evergreen wreaths. We're...in a new house this year, so we're starting from scratch. Go ahead, Khaat. I'll catch up."

Khaat followed Jess and Ronata through the store. She wanted to get a good look around before she started selecting ornaments. "I wonder if I should jsut get about five of everything?" she laughed.