Hi all! Apologies once again for the lateness of this update! But Real Life got in the way quite a bit this past month…a family wedding and a trip across the pond to see a dear friend and catch a West End show! I really hope you like the chapter and apologies for how very romantic it is, however in my defence I am a hopeless Teslenite so it's bound to creep in with each chapter I write…you have been warned ;)

As ever I own nothing much to my chagrin! The poem is from Oscar Wilde's wonderful imagination and is called Silentium Amoris (The Silence of Love), the song Black is the Colour is a Scottish song beloved of the Irish and is sung wonderfully by Christy Moore. Rocky Road to Dublin is sung by Luke Kelly and the Dubliners and was featured in the movie Sherlock Holmes. Much love goes to Tashah2109 for the lightning fast beta on this chapter! Enjoy…

Saturday night continued…..

Henry drank back the last of his pint and glanced over at Will with a grin. "How about we do some whiskey chasers?"

"You're on! Let's liven it up a bit. For each wrong answer you must take a shot. I think it should be song lyrics to start."

"Ah but for that we'll need an impartial third party." Henry tipsily told Will as he searched the pub for such a person. "And who better to fit the bill than our steady barman, Joseph." Henry grandly stated swinging his arm out wide and gestured towards a surprised Joseph.

"Ooooh no. I'll not be drawn into your drunken escapades."

"Oh c'mon Joe live a little! There'll be shots in it for you too."

"Ah sure why didn't you say so?" Joseph replied with a wink.

"A man should never refuse a proffered drink. So me father often told me. He was a wise man! Now the first one's on me, 'tis only fair." Joseph, in all seriousness told the two men as he placed two whiskey shot glasses down in front of them and nodded his approval.

That approval would soon turn into awe as both Will and Henry drank glass after glass in an attempt to out drink the other, the game long forgotten in their competitiveness.

"Ah…lads I hate to break it to ye but if ye don't quit soon ye'll have one all mighty hangover in the mornin'."

"And what about you? You've been drinking just as much as ourselves." Will almost pouted at Joseph.

"Ah see it's different for me. It may sound like an excuse but I'm Irish. It's in our blood to be able to withstand the fearsome whiskey. It's no wonder we call it Uisce Beatha…the water of life." Joseph deadpanned. The look on the two men's faces was enough to crack him and he burst into a belly laugh that would have been the envy of any comedian.

"Has anyone ever told you two that you're so gullible? I'm pulling your leg! I've been drinking watered down whiskey as I'm working the bar. It isn't a pretty picture when the barman of your local is roaring drunk!"

Henry muttered something along the lines of "…so like Tesla," so quietly that Will was sure he was mistaken but the dark look on Henry's face after Joe's teasing told him he may not be wrong.

"Now have ye heard the ruckus that's happening across the street?"

On seeing the nods of the men before him Joseph continued, "That would be the wedding of Fiona and Sean. Why don't ye head over and see what the craic is like?"

"Excuse me dude..I may be a little more drunk than I thought but did you just tell us to go and find some drugs at that wedding?!"

"Oh no! Sorry I said c..r..a..i..c as in Irish for fun."

"Oh yeah, that clears it up nicely!" Henry rolled his eyes at Will who could only shrug his shoulders as he had heard the expression before.

"Come on Henry what could it hurt to go look? Magnus and Tesla won't be back until morning. She'll never know we gatecrashed a wedding!"

ooOoo

Sunday morning…

Helen decided she had had enough of Nikola feeling sorry for himself. The morning after the night before and its resulting hangover was his own bloody fault! And she'd be damned if she let his bad mood influence her enjoyment of the wilds of the Irish countryside and the beautiful sunrise she was witnessing from the comfort of her window seat with a cup of tea in hand. This was as close to a relaxing morning she had gotten in quite some time and she was going to savour it. Hold that thought…Helen could hear Nikola make his way to her bedroom door and she pondered whether to ignore him or pander to his whims and see if that cheered him. No…ignore him and let him talk his way out of his hangover blues because surely there'd be a soliloquy in the offing, there inevitably always was!

She was amazed at his ability to shock her and make her feel guilty for doubting him, for on his arrival in her room Nikola said nothing but observed the sunrise standing quietly by her side and in a whisper began reciting Oscar Wilde.

"As oftentimes the too resplendent sun

Hurries the pallid and reluctant moon

Back to her sombre cave, ere she hath won

A single ballad from the nightingale,

So doth thy Beauty make my lips to fail,

And all my sweetest singing out of tune.

And as at dawn across the level mead

On wings impetuous some wind will come,

And with its too harsh kisses break the reed

Which was its only instrument or song;

So too my stormy passions work me wrong,

And for excess of Love my Love is dumb.

But surely onto Thee mine eyes did show

Why I am silent, and my lute unstrung;

Else it were better we should part, and go,

Thou to some lips of sweeter melody,

And I to nurse the barren memory

Of unkissed kisses, and songs never sung."

Helen was too mesmerised by the ebb and flow of the poem and Nikola's voice as he spoke the words to realise she was staring open-mouthed at him until she saw a smile creep slowly across his face. Clearing her throat, Helen asked him where he had read the poem.

"Your father bequeath you a diverse library, Helen and hidden in its depths are gems such as the poetry of Oscar Wilde. It seems your father had a penchant for poetry and a fondness for the Irish poets in particular judging from the well- thumbed editions I found there."

"Yes my father collected quite a lot of books on his travels around the world when in pursuit of a particular Abnormal, oftentimes learning about the cultures he encountered. The Irish he found were quite gregarious and welcoming and he took pleasure in learning a bit of their history and legends some of which he imparted onto myself. Now shall we get a move on and travel back to Dublin before lunch time?" Helen said as she got up from her spot on the window seat. "And if you're very good I might tell you a tale or two on our journey back." Helen couldn't resist the wink she gave Nikola as she said this.

"Oh I'll hold you to that, my dear. There is nothing like your voice to cure a particularly bad hangover!" Nikola grinned at her.

Mission accomplished! Nikola's back to himself again. Helen thought as she saw Nikola's grin.

ooOoo

The party seemed to be in full swing as Will and Henry tentatively entered the hotel ballroom. The two were not prepared to be noticed quite so soon after entering. They were greeted with smiles of acknowledgement and when one of the guest made their way over Henry nearly had heart failure. He hissed at Will that this was it they were going to be unceremoniously kicked out on their asses and was about to apologise profusely when the aforementioned guest who happened to be the groom took him by surprise.

"Any chance one of you boys can sing? I'm in a terrible bind, I haven't had a first dance with the missus yet and it's a bit embarrassing to say this but it's because the lead singer of the band we hired is falling down drunk already! So I'd appreciate it if ye could help me out."

Seeing how much it cost the man to come over and ask the question and one look at Will's terrified face told him that he wasn't going to be the one singing Henry offered his services gently telling Sean that he was not the best singer in the world but he'd give it a shot.

"Excellent! You're a lifesaver in more ways than one if you know what I mean!" Sean said in a stage whisper winking for good measure. "Do you know Black is the colour?"

"Um… I heard it maybe once." Henry nervously said. "I'll have a listen to the song again just to make sure I know the words before your dance!"

Sean clapped Henry on the back almost sending the young HAP flying across the room. "Great, would an half an hour do you? I can get the DJ to spin a few records for a while, so."

"You do that." Henry smiled and when Sean turned to move away he caught Will's eye and mouthed 'records' which sent Will into a fit of giggles that had him gasping for air.

"Henry, you can't be serious you don't even know the song how are you going to sing to a room full of people?!"

"I know most of it and if I have to I'll sing the same verse again…poetic license and all that!"

They had just downed their third pint and had listened to some great speeches from the groom and the bride's father and of course some funny reminisces from the best man when Sean winked at Henry letting him know they were ready for their first dance.

"Black is the colour of my true love's hair,
Her lips are like some roses fair,
She's the sweetest smile, And the gentlest hands,
I love the ground, Whereon she stands.

I love my love and well she knows,
I love the ground, whereon she goes,
I wish the day, it soon would come,
When she and I could be as one."

Nikola and Helen walked into the ballroom just as Henry was starting the final chorus. On hearing the words and despite the fact that she was angry at both Will and Henry for gatecrashing a wedding Helen couldn't help but appreciate Henry's lilting voice. Looking towards Nikola she jumped when she saw his intent stare. Blushing Helen made her way towards Will at the bar.

"So this is what you two get up to when I leave you alone for a day?"

"Ah… uh Magnus I can explain…"

Laughing at his awkward attempt at an apology Helen gestured towards the dance floor and the happy couple.

"How could I stay mad at the two of you when you've made their wedding dance special? You two are incorrigible though you know that?" Helen playfully nudged Will.

At that moment Henry started singing another song that roused a cheer and suddenly the dance floor was filled with enthusiastic revellers.

"In the merry month of June from me home I started,

Left the girls of Tuam so sad and broken hearted,

Saluted father dear, kissed me darling mother,

Drank a pint of beer, me grief and tears to smother,

Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born,

Cut a stout black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins;

Bought a pair of brogues rattling o'er the bogs

And fright'ning all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two, three four, five, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky

road and all the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah !"

The rest of the night was spent swapping stories and laughing with the other guests and Helen had to admit it was one of nicest nights she'd spent in a long while together with friends.