LONDON CALLING

"She would love every single second of that," Angus replied as they followed Edward and Simone towards the spot where Edward and Simone had thought they might like the wedding to be. "And she'd do a fabulous job. She was in the same class and the same house with my grandmother, so I grew up with her being around actually quite a lot. I lost track of her after my grandmother died."

"Michael has a son?" Natalie asked, shaking Rowan's hand. "I wonder why he never said anything. Well, it's been a few years since I've seen him. It will be six years ago this coming Christmas Eve. We were at the Sydney opera house. They did a wonderful charity production for a children's hospital of the Nutcracker. I honestly have never met a man that is as sophisticated and is as poised as Michael is. Will he be coming to the wedding, him and Daphne?"

"Michael, yes," Kate said, "Daphne, well, that's hard to say. You know what her schedule is like."

"Then I look forward to it. Is this the spot? This is beautiful."

"This is the spot," Edward said. "It's a favorite here."

Marcus walked over to Rowan. "Sorry--didn't get to answer you. The course you saw here is the easier course. It's one of three enchanted training courses that Robert has designed. He changes them regularly. He has this one for beginners, and it is an exceptional challenge even for the skilled fighters. There is also an advanced course, and then there is an expert level course. We sometimes stay here there is a need for us to do it, and he wants us to continue our training. Besides, he trains harder than any of the rest of us. he trains on every one of those courses on a regular basis, and he's the one that sets the bar for what he expects us to be able to do. He won't even open a course to us until he has gotten it to what he thinks is right for the course and for the skill level he wants the course to challenge. Even at his age, he can outdo almost every one of us. And, then there are the other courses at Brian's you haven't seen yet, and all of the courses and the training areas at the Colorado ranch. You haven't seen that place at all yet. We do at least one survival weekend or week there every year. It's mandatory."

Rowan heard Marcus and looked back at the Assault course and then to Marcus again. " he has more than one?" he asked but listened more as Marcus explained more " well then I better start training then I must seem like a dweeb compared to you guys and yeah, Its a good idea to have a grasp of desert survival skills and training too" he said watching the small group from where he now stood " you must have eyes in the back of your head to watch this lot." he said glancing at him then back to the group.

Ruby smiled " oh I do hope she's able to, but I want to see what she can do with Simone and Edwards before we settle if that's okay" she said " I know she's like an auntie to you, but we have to think who would be best for the job and right now just listening to her, and how professional she is, we'll wait till after Edward and Simone's wedding before discussing anything with her, this is your grand father and simones day first" she said with a smile to him.

"No, no, you don't get it," Marcus laughed. "There are three courses here, three at Brian's, multiple courses in Colorado, and those survival weekends are in all kinds of weather. Just about every other year, we have a survival weekend in the Colorado mountains in January, in sub zero temperatures--for three to four days. Sometimes its the desert in the summer, or the mountains in the winter, o the most barren places in the Scottish highlands in February or March when its colder than crap and constantly raining. You just never know what he's doing to want. He likes surprises, and he loves to challenge us in all kinds of whackadoodle ways. And i know for a fact he's designing an escape room as a training exercise."

"I don't care who we get, or if we don't get anyone at all," Angus told her. "If we don't get anyone, I'll handle it. I've been managing these facilities for a long time. I'm not worried."

Edward and Natalie were thrilled with Natalie's ideas. She had ideas for hanging wispy strands of vines that were entwined with clematis and pink jasmine. She suggested that they have an arch of grapevines that were draped in cascades of climbing roses and other blooming vines and perhaps some green vines. She wasn't sure if she would add any ribbon or not. That would depend on how it looked when she and her florists designed it. She was looking at a long, half circular table that was decorated in greenery and flowers.

She planned on an enchanted canopy of it rained, and she said she could hang beautiful magical candle lamps to light the space once it started to get dark, if they wanted to go that long. She was fine with the menu of American barbeque, and they discussed using a set of Kate's pottery for the wedding meal, with some of Brian's best champagne, some wine, and a wide selection of non alcoholic drinks. Edward chose to have her bring in a couple servers so that everyone could simply sit and relax. And then they decided on the music and decorating a space for a little dancing. Simone brought up the idea that guests should be able to change into more comfortable clothes, and Natalie decided to set up a couple wizarding tents, one for women to use to store a change of clothes in and to change in, and one for the men. She offered to bring in a nanny for Abbey, but Kate was quick to say she believed there would be no shortage of people that would take turns in taking care of her. So, far, it sounded like it was going to be lovely.

Rowan listened to Marcus explain more about the training and stood wide eyed " okay, so all weather and situational training then" he said " then I should realy go on several of these trainning courses to bring myself up to speed on what Robert is asking" he said " can't be a body guard if Im not up on what the client needs" he said " but you are right never been to colorado or rather the area where that ranch is or I would have stopped in and done some of teh courses, Im always open to try new things and train more." he said

Ruby looked and smiled at Angus " your right , even if its just us tood out on the open with nature as our back drop and family as witnesses Im happy with that" she said smiling " but this place is magical all on its own" she said closing her eyes and listening to teh sound of the waterfall and running water.

"So, are you more of a fighter, like our first stringers, or do you prefer personal protections? What, specifically, is your specialization? I got the impression when you got here that you were a fighter, and now I see you leaning into protections. I started as a fighter and in doing extractions. Did that for a lot of years. And then I went to protections--political figures mainly. In fact, I was assigned as the primary guard to the Bulgarian Minister of Magic for several years before Robert hired me away from Bulgaria. I've been with Robert ever since. That's not to say I won't fight, because I will. I do like stepping back into a skirmish now and then. There is some definite overlap between some of your dad's specialties and some of mine, but that has actually been a benefit and not a hindrance."

"We have a little time," Angus told Ruby. "I think its fine to think and to dream right now before we settle on something." He looked around and didn't see Abbey. "Kate, where's Abbey?"

"She was just here..." Kate began. Angus started to look around and then he saw a little labrador pup playing in the creek. He sighed heavily.

"Well, shit," Angus sighed.

"It's a tiny animagus!" Natalie said.

"No, its a tiny metamorph," Angus said. Natalie reached in her bag and drew out a cookie, and crouched down close to the ground and called the puppy, who raced over and snatched the cookie. Natalie didn't miss a beat, took off her purple shawl, and scooped up the soaking wet pup and wrapped her in the shawl.

"Oh, give her here, Aunt Nat," Angus said. "Holding onto her when she's wet is a lot like capturing a greased pig." She laughed and handed the puppy to Angus as the puppy continued to crunch on the cookie.

Natalie went to Robert's large back patio and sat down and started to do a few rough sketches.

"Come see this, you two," Edward called to Ruby and Angus. "You need to see what she has in mind. She's using mostly natural elements, vines and flowers, beeswax candles, that sort of thing. She's taking the direction that nature gives this spot and is looking to add mostly natural elements and then enchanting them to give it an enchanted forest look. Come see what you think."

Rowan listened to Marcus and nodded " I was a fighter then I state my own security company specialising in personal protection, have done the mayor of this fair county as well as foreign signatories, I do believe I saw you once with that...dam the name escapes me but he was a big business tycoon, it was for some seminar that the deputy head of a company was holding he wanted extra guard so brought us in to take up the slack...more like take all the work, his guard did nothing." he said 

Ruby smiled and nodded to Angus " your right" she smiled down at him and then saw Abby in puppy form splashing in the creek " oh my" she said but then Kat caught her " well done, not many can catch a tiny metamorph that quick." she smiled as Angus took Abby. I t was now she heard Edward call and ask then to check Kats work smiling she walked over and marveled twhat she had done as a design so far " wow thats beautiful." she said " it would be perfect for this spot." Ruby looked at Angus and smiled now dead set when the time came she would use Kat to do the design for it.

"I think it's going to be perfect," Kate said. "Now, Angus, your friend has the meal all handled? Should I add some appetizers?"

"I think you should let them come hungry to the meal. I know how he cooks," Angus laughed. "There will be barbeque spare ribs, barbeque chicken, barbeque beef brisket--which is my absolute favorite. Salad, loaded potato skins, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, American french fries, macaroni and cheese, and a couple other things. If people can't get full on that, that's their own fault."

"You realize its only going to be our normal crew, don't you? There's enough there to feed the whole Donohue clan," Edward frowned.

"Yes, I know, but trust me, the leftovers are divine," Angus grinned.

"And is there a cake?" Natalie asked.

"Yes. I have the cake covered," Angus said. "A cake table would be great. One at least four feet long."

"You'll have it," she told him. "Do you need pedistals or servers or..."

"You get me the table and the covering, and I'll bring the cake," he told her.

"Are you going to tell me more than that?"

'No," he replied. She laughed.

"You say that like a true chef."

"Imagine that," Angus said, not telling her he was a chef.

"Your little metamorph wants to run and play," Natalie said.

"Yes, I know," Angus laughed. "I know this little metamorph very well." He looked at Ruby. "Aunt Nat is a seer, and she is particularly gifted with telepathy."

"Did you know that little one is a seer already?" Natalie asked.

"Yes. We know,' Angus said. "A three year old seer has challenges all its own, we're finding. She's Kate's granddaughter."

"She is going to be exceptional if she is allowed to develop her gifts," Natalie said. "I've never seen one so young before. She's delightful."

"Sometimes she's delightful," Angus laughed.

Ruby listened and smiled not needing to add anything else to what Angus was saying to Nat. She could picture it all and it would be beautiful for them. She heard Angus tell her of Abby and smiled " oh yeah" she said and chuckled as she saw Abby squirm a little on his knee. " I think some one is getting restless and your a seer?" she said smiling wondering if she could tell something about her or maybe not at this point. " Angus do you want me to take her home?" she offered. "I have to say that I love your idea for the wedding, its natral perfection at its best." she said and chukled as she looekd abck at the area. 

Rowan thought about the trainning and made his mind up to do some. Once they wee done at the wedding venue he would talk to Robert once he was free and ask about trainning at Arazona in the all weather trainning senarios.

"Natalie is a shirt tail relative of Sybill Trelawny," Angus said. "Sybill is gifted in premonitions. Natalie is more gifted in telepathy and in mediumship."

"By the way, there's a man talking to me,' Natalie said, not looking up from her sketching. "He says he used to live here."

"That has to be Remus," Kate said.

"He's very insistent that I tell you that there is a foul, green dark arts object. It cannot be redeemed. It must be destroyed as soon as possible because it opens a gateway. And it can only be destroyed by a whitelighter with a white blade."

"A white blade? What the heck is that?" Angus frowned.

"I have no idea. I'm only relaying the message."

"That's no help, Remus," Angus said, looking up, almost as if he expected to see him.

"I don't know more than that, but he's insistent it has to be destroyed as soon as possible."

"Well, that's confusing," Angus said. He looked at Ruby. "I suppose you could take her home. Maybe Nigel could change her back. If Gabe's there, he might be able to tell you something about this white blade thingy."

Ruby listened to Kat and smiled but when she spoke of remus she looekd conserned at her." When Angus spoke she nodded and lent down to pick Abby up " okay if he gives us anything important I'll come back" she said and lifted Abby into her arms befoe smilin t Kat " it ws nice to meet you" she said and offered her hand for Kat to shake.

Rowan walked over to Angus seeing the look on his face " everything okay?" he asked standing slightly to one side his arms folded as he too listened to Kat talk about a whitelighter with a white sword" hum never heard of such thing, Have you Marcus?" he asked turning slightly to face him.