Spring Flowers

"John," she said very softly, "I know what it's like to lose the person you love the most in the world. My uncle raised me, and when he died--well, I wasn't as strong as you were. I wanted to die too. I thought if I did, I could be with him. But you know what? I found out that I still had a lot of people who loved me and eventually I started to enjoy life again. Nobody will ever replace your mom for you. You don't need to worry about that. From what your dad told me she was one really wonderful lady. And its alright to miss her--a lot.

"But, I don't want you to keep secrets from me because you're worried about my dad. You need to know a couple things. First, I am a very powerful wizard and a powerful healer. I killed the men who held you hostage. They're gone. They won't be back. And second--you remember my dad? When you were at our farm? He's even more powerful than I am--as a wizard and as a healer. And between your dad, me, my dad, my mom, my husband, his family--nobody is ever, ever going to hurt you or your dad again. I will protect you and your dad. I give you my word. Adults do not ever, ever have the right to ask a kid to keep a secret--unless its something good and only for a short time--like what you're buying your dad for Christmas or something like that. But nobody ever has the right to try to get you to keep a bad secret and to keep it forever. That's just wrong. That's all the more reason to tell someone. Especially when that happens. So a grownup can help you. I am positive your mom and dad taught you all about that.

"I can see where you might not want to tell your dad. But--I'm different. If you want to tell me, and if you want me to not tell your dad, I can do that. The choice is up to you. Maybe someday, when the danger is over, we can tell your dad together. But right now, I think you need to trust somebody. And I'd like to think you could trust me."

"Nobody's going to let your dad get hurt. He's been fighting things like this for a very long time. Its not your job to protect him, John. And your secrets won't protect him anyway. It will only put him in more danger by not knowing the full truth of what happened. When he knows, he knows what he's up against. It doesn't mean he'll go after them. That's my job. Mine and my father's. I don't want your dad following up there. It puts his job in jeopardy. Makes him look like a traitor to his country.

"My father is more powerful than any wizard alive, just about. He and I will go and finish this so neither of you are in danger or have to be afraid. We're just waiting on you to give us the information we need to be able to clea the rest of it up. As I see it, you have a choice. You can tell me the truth and then have us go get this out of your life for good. Or, you can both live in fear, always looking behind your back to see if there is somebody there. I sure wouldn't want to live that way. You've been through enough as it is."

"Nobody is going to hurt you or your father. I promise," Khaat said. "I have no intention of telling your dad. I'm going to make sure you and he are safe for the rest of your lives. I promise. Now. Dry your eyes. Its going to be alright. Trust me. If we can get these beds cleared before lunch, I'll make a large homemade pizza for us for lunch. What do you say? Do you like pizza?"

"Of course," she smiled. She accio'ed another mug of hot cide for him from the pot of it on the stove. The cup floated over to him easily. "You can have as much as you want," she smiled. She sent her coffeecup to the kitchen, it it returned refilled, fresh and hot. "The most important thing to me is that you feel safe now. And I'll make sure that happens. I promise."

She called her parents throgh the floo and they apparated there quickly. "Mom, can you work with John with the flowerbeds? Get them cleaned out? I have lots and lots of bedding plants to put in too. And I promised John a homemade pizza for lunch. Daddy, would you care to back me up? I have a bit of undone cleanup to do."

"Ah,"Robert smiled, "I wondered when you would want to do that. I'll be right back. And, yes, its high time we do that." He apparated out, and reappeared a moment later, dressed in his black travelling clothes. Khaat apparated up to her room and found she had to go to some black maternity travelling clothes. Her regular travelling clothes, for the first time, were too tight. She draped her black cloak around her and tucked a wand in her boot and the other in her cloak. She reappeared in the living room.

Robert noticed the switch immediately to her maternity clothes. "Very, very nice, my dear," he said. "That has to be more comfortable."

"It is," she agreed.

"Then let's go. John, we'll be right back," Robert said, "Dont' you worry about a single thing. You just do a good job for Khaat with her flowers and she'll make it worth your while. Deal?"